Rides and Races - DC Pirates' Pillages and Plunders

this should be a useful link (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html)

i've done a conversion on a raleigh capri, the frame looks like it should be alright. have fun with that. :)

I had a great time riding yesterday and hanging with everyone after... I've posted some pix from yesterday on flickr as well. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kingpinphoto/sets/72157594191967556/

http://static.flickr.com/77/184929574_b3d71f2d9c.jpg

I thought you guys might get a kick out if these:
http://static.flickr.com/78/184958245_1075e98b43_o.jpg (http://www.hypebeast.com/2006/07/06/neighborhood-x-adidas-gazelle-berlin/)

Oh hell yeah! I'm putting clips and straps on my bike just so I can wear those.

Thanks a lot, the link is great.

I asked a friend who works at a bike shop and he said that any frame with forward opening dropouts should not be fixed, as skid stopping and general riding can put too much tension on the chain and the rear wheel can come loose and forward. He recommended that I do a single speed with it.

Is it really that dangerous to do a conversion with dropouts like these?

this should be a useful link (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html)

i've done a conversion on a raleigh capri, the frame looks like it should be alright. have fun with that. :)

Baldylocks, I'm with you. I thought the whole attitude was pretty crap last night.

Lebowitz, I've never heard of people having problems with horizontal drop-outs, I've ridden mine for months without an issue.

Pirates are always present in DC Critical Mass, and really held it through the winter. The Bike Pirates welcomed anyone from Critical Mass to eat and drink after rides. The DC Bike Pirates introduced to me, with a rather ravenous clamoring, the Sparks beverage. Pirates are hardy growling ornorants, but are lovable superheros.
Mike -still new

You know what, I was late as **** getting to Dupont last night after surprisingly having to work during the day. I didn't get there, of course. I put the parrot above the Incendiary Flag of Fire while Chloe met me in the yard of my home on that quaint mountian in NE. When we rolled down it's side, Chelsea called and told me CM was taking off. There me and Chloe's chase started. While Chelsea kept calling to inform me of CM direction changes, Walker was calling me to hear where CM was, and to hear where me and Chloe were. We ran into Walker in Georgetown, just about 5 blocks NW from east-bound PA ave CM. We chased it as best we could and became more distant. I asked Chelsea if she could stop it on 18th street when we were tailing CM in Adams Morgan. Massers cheered us arriving their camp on Columbia RD, it was quite beautiful that we were waited for, and I saw how that camping and waiting deflated the spirit of the ride afterwards...so big thank you. I tried to guide it towards Union Station and Barracks Row after a friend wanted Mt Pleasant, but I lost guiding position while "corking" side streets, and some people were turned off to the idea of riding to 8th and M SE cause they were tiring.

I was rocking Mass to the sounds of a Dub compilation. Then later, an old Junkyard tape.

I met Erin and Joel. It was awesome talking to them. They are building! Joel: tall bikes, sound-system knowledge. Erin: DIY bike carts/trailers. In one more month of being in DC, Erin wants to present a how-to on building a cart http://www.instructables.com/id/ENK7HBIQG6EP286RJK/

Secret Service officers followed the mass a couple blocks from the whitehouse and pulled over three riders out of the rear. They only scolded and admonished in that condensating way, but also searched one of them. That one, James, said that he was first told he could go, and then he was pulled over again.

It was my love's last DC Critical Mass before she goes to the Carribean for at least several months. She had a goodbye party at her Porter House. I had a fever and still do.

the only problem ive ever heard of while converting fixed is vertical dropout, which your fame does not have, because with the vertical dropouts you cant slide the wheel forward or back so you need a perfect chain length and gear ratio per frame.

that website talks about it.

And we're glad you could be there Mike (along with all the other fun folks).

Who's coming out for the movie tomorrow (which, having seen it last night, I can say is pretty darn cool)?

Yo Pirates. Just wanted to show you how I represented for yall in NYC today. The bandana makes an appearance because I want to maintain what little anonymity I have left, it contrasts nicely with the shirt, and, also, it's kind of piratey. Before this photo was taken, it was worn Tupac syle, as an eyepatch, and traditional. Thanks to Julie for the T-shirt. Keep on' looting. - J

http://i6.tinypic.com/1zdsygi.jpg

nice shirt!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldylocks/sets/72157594192334896/

I am so happy right now!

you named her yet? the bike (just so there is no further horse play....NOAH!)

Yes, CM last night got a little stupid....may be a lot. I think that the Pirates have been providing a good showing and we do a good job of helping and protecting the less experience riders, maintaining a continuous stream and covering everybodies 6. But damn it, if some people want to straggle along with a big gap between themselves and the group just to f88k around, then we should not put ourselves in a position to facilitate that. esp in light of what happen and what could have happened to Deuce.

Osman, if you are reading this, glad you are ok too, you are welcomed to ride with us anytime!

Enlacalle, yous on the C train now?

rig.

seeing how much fun everyone was having on fixed last night has got me a hankering to convert this bike and join in. First I'm wondering if this frame is suitable for conversion. I'm not good with wheels or hub adjustment , but I got the dough , tools, and time if someone could help me out (i live on T and 18th) I will make it worth the while

CM rules , i will be there next time for sure. thanks chelsea for the fun party and goodbye!
Craig :D

That was YOU! hahaha, not as dorky as your avatar. This frame you have, it should work fine. With the largest concentration of piracy immediately east of logan, PM us if you need help wrenching or help spending your bike budget. :P

Adiction, it is a slippery slope

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pirate-Black-Sleeveless-cycling-Jersey-skull-bones-M_W0QQitemZ7245879227QQihZ015QQcategoryZ58064QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

sweet

i think we should all get those...a bit on the pricey side...we should just go plunder the warehouse

leb, horizontal dropouts are great for fixed conversions, even if you plan to skid a lot. it's a good idea to use real track nuts (http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_tp-z.html#tracknut)

enla lookin sharp, let us know if you're gonna be around and we'll pillage some ****.

joel, those pictures are amazing. seriously, i'm in awe. i still wanna build a tallbike!

Photons, I'm glad you liked the pix.
Lebowitz, your frame will make a perfect conversion. You would break a chain before you could pull your axle loose if you have your axle nuts properly tightened. The thing to be extra careful about when doing a fixed conversion is the chain line. Make sure it it straight or you could drop your chain while riding, which could result in DEATH.

I got a request for a few copies high res versions of my pix so I posted them for everyone. Peep em here.

http://kingpinphoto.kingpindc.com/dcpirates/index.php

Enjoy!

you named her yet? the bike (just so there is no further horse play....NOAH!)

I can't name somebody elses bike silly. Anyway, since Joel and Photons are showing off their good pictures I figured I'd drop some lousy ones...cheers

http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldylocks/sets/72157594192711162/

glad you like it ELC, nice photo too. the t-shirts arent colors, theyre t-shirts, talk to nathan if you want to make colors. some of us have talked about doing real pirate jerseys, but seeing as there are still people read: pista pirates who havent picked up their ****ing 06 shirts, i'm not going to work on any jerseys for a while

wheres that bartape baldylocks? looks nice :)

thanks for the props BoomBox, since we're on the topic of CM you should post your whole NYC mass story here. hope youre feeling better.

wheres that bartape baldylocks? looks nice :)



We were trying out different bars that day so they didn't have any obnoxious green tape on them yet.

Thanks a lot, the link is great.

I asked a friend who works at a bike shop and he said that any frame with forward opening dropouts should not be fixed, as skid stopping and general riding can put too much tension on the chain and the rear wheel can come loose and forward. He recommended that I do a single speed with it.

Is it really that dangerous to do a conversion with dropouts like these?

Your friend is not qualified to work at a bike shop. He's an idiot.

Hey, settle down there cowboy.

Your friend is not qualified to work at a bike shop. He's an idiot.

He's Chris B up at City Bikes. Really nice guy but I guess confused about the dangers of these conversions. Perhaps he wanted to sell me a track frame ;)

Photons, I'm glad you liked the pix.
Lebowitz, your frame will make a perfect conversion. You would break a chain before you could pull your axle loose if you have your axle nuts properly tightened.

Thanks I am going to get a wheelset next month when I have money. I think the only part I'll need help with is adjusting the hub and then tensioning the chain. I would provide the beer and stuff if someone wanted to help me wrench. I've got a stand and tools, just not the ones necessary for hub adjustment.

Give me a shout when ya get yer wheelset and I'll help ya out.

What I learned from the movie:

Don't build spherical prison cells
Giant sea creatures only attack ships and not people floating in the water
Falling from a great height won't kill you as long as you fall through something on the way down

On an unlrelated note, I expressed an availability for the pillage this Wednesday. However, as usual I did so without complete knowlege of my calendar and as a result I remembered not to many minutes ago that DC United (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dc_united) plays Celtic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_F.C.) this coming Wednesday. So, I will not be able to pillage.

Kingpin, there are a few bikes in the stable that you might enjoy seeing and shooting.

Bring it on... I have a camera and a bike by which to travel with... My legs are a little sore from friday though... Critical Mass on an uncomfortable tall bike and then sprinting up Porter past the party all the way to Wisconson on my fixie has left me a little worse for the wear... After the party I rode all the way to the Red and the Black down on H st NE for some reason that is still unknown to me... Oh, the things we do when drunk...

Hey homies,
Sorry I missed the movie yesterday. SO we're pillaging WEdnesday? When and where?

Though bike looks suitable for conversion but it maybe not in the ways you think.
Fuji is a rented brand name that is applied to various bikes, others are schwinn, raleigh.

That looks like paint, not powdercoat.

The cranks look like they have steel rings, painted black. Probably early nineties.
ex-messenger is not the pedigree it sounds like. I would trust him less for that, rather than more.
Thankfully the messengers you get to meet are mostly part of the messenger community in DC which happens to be made up of nice folks. They are just people wit the job and like cops, are as varied as anyone else.

I am puzzled by the cult of the messenger.

However.

The bike looks suitable for conversion, get parts at chain reaction or from my stash. BUY a back wheel, keep your front brake and use an easy gear. DC SOP is 46x18.

It will likely be a great ride, steel, tange probably. Long dropouts, you can even cut the anger off, though I would say leave it. It doen't get in the way and will let you be modular.
Tough, strong, responsive and much easier on you, especially with thin tires.

Don't buy a wheelset, it is waste of money.
And don't buy a surly hub.
formula (IRO) is much better and cheaper.

I am with baldylocks on CM. It was weird. Perfect weather, good turnout, lots of energy for riding. But too much attitude and less of an attitude of fun. It was too quiet, directionless, confrontational, too much spreading out. What can we do differently next time?

costumes,

more freak bikes,

ride marshals (informal of course) but some up front to guide and some in back to help stragglers.

a plan?

more boombox mike

more boomboxes in general...We can que them up and make quite a scene especially if we are having fun with it. I am listening to my "crocketts theme" from Miami vice right now and thinking how cool that would sound coming out of twenty boomboxes as we pedal slowly along.

It is a parade, so if we roll loud, don't fight the lights unecessarily, and stay in a pack we can be safe and make a scene.

what route would make the most impact and still be good for driving?

Racing, showing off, looking for a fight etc. can all be counterproductive.

When I was a party planner I noticed that costume parties made everyone feel a little silly and thus they relaxed and had more fun. Ego's were quieted and a sense of group fun increased.

I suggest that model for CM. Don't roll out with attitude, don't dress to be cool. Dress to be a spectacle.

Welders caps (bright polka dots) used to be the hot messenger cap. I want to bring that back. We can buy them cheap and sell them at cost at CM.

that sort of thing, bright colors, music, your silliest rides, flags, etc.

The point of CM is to assert our rights and recruit. But often assertion is used to condone revenge and bullying. Recruiting is rarely sucessful when CM alienates other cyclists and inspires hate in drivers.

The circulator driver in georgetown is the best example of what we can get from drivers. smiling honking, laughing, amused rather than annoyed. Second best is the driver who is stuck in traffic and sees the circus go by andwishes he could be out there in stead of stuck in his car...

"live free or drive"

operator isn't qualified to criticize.

Chris is right but conservative. That is the standard line at shops. And it ISN"T because folks want to sell track frames.
(I see this all the time, "the shop told me not to do something stupid because they want to sell me something") shop employees do not give a **** about that kind of thing.

They sell thousand of boring bikes, if you are into riding and making a fixed gear you are so far in the minority as to be special. And thus they don't want you to die. They are protecting you from dying, because they wanto tyou to be around. It isn't sales, its love.

The biggest dangers are in going brakeless and having inadequate transmission components to deal with the stresses. cogs, rings, chains, rear hub, locknut.

keep the brake,
use mtn cranks 170mm and a salsa heavy ring from QBP (any bike shop can order this stuff).

Use a formula rear hub. You could use a road hub if there is room for a lockring and a good cog, but there rarely is.

get a wipperman BMX chain ($12).

Yeah, in short, baldy and me can help out.

OK time to work,

end of the long posts...

I am teaching a basic bike repair and adjustment class at citybikes every thursday evening at 6:30. Come along, bring friends, etc. Everyone should take this class.

I may also start teaching some more advanced classes later on if anyone is interested. Local enthusiasts should be a lot easier than cops and teenagers.

Get in touch with me if you are interested.

Welders caps (bright polka dots) used to be the hot messenger cap. I want to bring that back. We can buy them cheap and sell them at cost at CM.

that sort of thing, bright colors, music, your silliest rides, flags, etc.

"live free or drive"

Welder caps are hip in some areas. IE- Philly a lot of messengers do wear them.

Also, I have a 4'x5' Jolly Roger that I wanted to fly at this CM, but just moving to the area and having read that there was a group that calls themself the DC Pirates I decided I didnt want to because I didn't know if you were friendly or would have given me **** for thinking I was trying to be you. I can bring it out next month if you guys would like. A 4 foot by 5 foot pirate flag coming down in a herd of cyclists with boomboxes and polka dot caps... talk about a spectacle...

that class sounds like a good opporotunity for me to be putting together an everyday bike for commuting to work. one that i wont be really really really bummed when it starts to rain and i have to look out the window and see my bike looking up with those sad 'let me in' puppy dog eyes.

dont try and be me, it doesnt work. :)

edit: i would say the DC Street Pirates are not Critical Mass, and Critical Mass is not the Pirates. while a lot of us ride in both and recruitment has gone both ways, they are not at all the same and shouldnt be thought of as the same. please respect that and be careful trying to speak on behalf of either group. if you think they are the same, fell free to explain why.

Thanks I am going to get a wheelset next month when I have money. I think the only part I'll need help with is adjusting the hub and then tensioning the chain. I would provide the beer and stuff if someone wanted to help me wrench. I've got a stand and tools, just not the ones necessary for hub adjustment.

Nothing wrong with cups and cones (I have some), but a cartridge bearing hub is so much easier to live with. depending on the hubs you select, there may be some spacing of the "over locknut" spcing required. straight forward stuff.

Nothing wrong with cups and cones (I have some), but a cartridge bearing hub is so much easier to live with. depending on the hubs you select, there may be some spacing of the "over locknut" spcing required. straight forward stuff.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and offers of help. I saw a used wheelset on CL yesterday for $150, is this a good deal?

"300mi on Suzue MaxPro hubs (rear is flip-flop), Mavic CXP 21 rims, 36 straight guage spokes. Seller throwing in 15T and 17T gear."

The only thing that concerns me is that this track wheelset has 120mm spacing and currently my dropouts are spaced at 125mm, but seem to be able to move between 120 and 130. Before I was using 130mm on my old wheels.

All I will need is the chain, 1" threaded quill stem, a U brake for the front and a brake lever. The handlebars I have around.

Some 2 mm & or 3 mm wheel axle spacers, and 20 mins of tweaking and you are in business with the wheel. Adding the cogs, it is a "good" deal. heck, it will get you started until you pass it on. You can get the said spacers at Cap Hill or Citi for $1 each. 2 X 2 mm for 124 spacing, 2 X 3mm for 126 spacing or one of each and live with it, your choice, its all good.

What are you referring to?
recruitment etc?

I don't get it, you seem to be replying ot my posting but I don't get the connection.
I am discussing CM strategy with pirates who were at the CM.
CM is the big show and if we (everyone) want to encourage cycling in DC we need to encourage (manage)CM. So that does not die, which it does regularly.

There were three seperate CM's three years ago and one of them had only two participants in the winter (Sol, who you know) and Scrooge who you don't. The others simply died. Each CM apppered fully formed and thought they were the first. (This is a typical fallacy in all endeavours involving two wheels).

Pirates are one of the many amateur cycling clubs in the area. They are simply the group to have used the internet most effectively. CM is the best opportunity to link with other groups. But it has beena pathetic tragedy so far. No messengers, few communters, no DCstreets, no chain reaction, no WABA, almost no bike shop employees.

In fact, but for the pirates it would be almost exclusively white middle class hippies and patch-punk cromewellians. Stopping traffic and causing problems for real cyclists.

So lets guide, manage, recruit and develop this resource.

I was a lobbyist for the Crescent trail and bikes on the metro, that was a long time ago and look how much we have accomplished. Why stop now?

No messengers, few communters, no DCstreets, no chain reaction, no WABA, almost no bike shop employees.

So lets guide, manage, recruit and develop this resource.

Why stop now?

Red–You bring up lots of very good points, but the question is what do we do about it? If we want more number to show up to CM, then I think we need to reach out and try to bridge the groups.

I have have been told all the story about why this group or that group stopped coming. It has been a long time, some of that stuff has to be forgotten about.

For the DC CM to have any true effect it would be nice if some of these different party could come together and talk. I think the "Pirate Mass" has done a good job of keeping it going, but I agree more has to be done.

(BTW, I was not at the last few rides, but I just got hit last week and my knee is banged up. Take what I said for what its worth.)

In fact, but for the pirates it would be almost exclusively white middle class hippies and patch-punk cromewellians.

hey now, some of us are all three

This Wednesday
Fancy Beer Places Pillage
7pm, 14th and K

attendance mandatory, squareness optional

Did any of us know about this (http://www.mtv.de/pimpmyfahrrad/index.php)

The German-language MTV Central Europe has two adaptions of the show called Pimp My Fahrrad (English: "Pimp My Bicycle") and Pimp My Whatever. On Pimp My Fahrrad [3], the bike shop Elbcoast Psycles redoes almost the entire bicycle, usually leaving only the frame intact. While the show could be seen as a parody of the American original, it is also a loving tribute, using all the elements of the American show with a bicycle twist.

Here's more info... http://www.mtv.de/pimpmyfahrrad/index.php

I'll be happy if they stay away from my bike... It doesn't need any pimpin'

Thanks I am going to get a wheelset next month when I have money.

Couldn't wait... done, and done for $150. Wheels are in very good shape and hubs are supple. 16T on the fixed side 18T freewheel

Does anyone want to sell a 1" threaded stem or extra u brake?

http://static.flickr.com/67/187021039_d6fd0f4693.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/53/186974409_13d0049be2.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/73/186974434_2a7d0aafce_m.jpg

I asked a friend who works at a bike shop and he said that any frame with forward opening dropouts should not be fixed, as skid stopping and general riding can put too much tension on the chain and the rear wheel can come loose and forward. He recommended that I do a single speed with it.

Is it really that dangerous to do a conversion with dropouts like these?

It can be dangerous. Bikes with forward facing dropouts were not designed to be fixed gear machines. If you want a fixed gear bike you should get a track frame. If your heart is set on that frame, please use a chain tensioner, or at the very least a Surley Singulator (http://www.surlybikes.com/parts/singleator_pop.html).

Your friend is not qualified to work at a bike shop. He's an idiot.

He may be an idiot, but what he told Lebowitz was absolutely correct.

He's Chris B up at City Bikes. Really nice guy but I guess confused about the dangers of these conversions. Perhaps he wanted to sell me a track frame ;)

I work with Chris B, he's cool as sh!t, and though he may be a confused individual, he's got his info straight concerning conversions.