Yarrr

Hello! What's going on in the area? Anyone heard of anything that sounds worthwhile?

Hmmmm.... i'm building a new road bike. . . He's a gorgeous Schwinn. i'm thinking that the frame is from the late 70s or early 80s. Unfortunately he's not for me My friend needs a bike badly so i'm helping him out a bit.

By the way, everyone should come to Critical Mass at the end of the month. i haven't been in a little while and intend to make it this time (if i'm not working). It happens the last Friday of EVERY MONTH, 5:30pm at the Gallivan Center. Bring you bikes and ride around!! yeah!!

By the way, i'm posting this message for two reasons 1) because nothing seems to happen in the mountain-plains region, so i thought i'd liven up the forum a bit. And 2) i'm suppose to be doing homework and this is a great way to procrastinate.

waldowales

Critical Mess, huh? Yeah, let's make sure that everybody hates bikes! There is not enough animosity toward bikes already, let's show them what real scofflaw hoodlums look like! Scheesh!

shuttoj

I'm hoping to visit SLC sometime in the near future, I'll post up before I get there so you friendly local types can point me to the good road rides In the mean time I'll be at the Critical Mass in Denver this month after missing the last two, so we'll have some mountain plains solidarity going on!

Waldo, from everything I've read and seen first-hand, CM varies quite a bit from city to city. The local rides here in Denver are very mellow with four motorcycle cops escorting us the whole way (their idea, not ours). If I saw behavior similar to what I've read of other CM's going over the top, I'd certainly reconsider. The Denver crew here is pretty solid and we have a great time.

Aloyzius

Hey Yarr.

If you can, post some pics of the Schwinn as it comes along. I'd like to see it, and you won't be riding it, so...

I've been on a couple Critical Mass rides, and am still undecided. for the most part, everyone was pretty well behaved and it was all just fun. Every once in a while you get the guy that wants to stick it to the man or whatever. But it's pretty mellow, as it should be, and I'll keep doing it. If people want to be idiots, I'll bail. No biggie.

Aloyzius

Oh, I know the Josie Johnson Memorial Ride is in two weeks. And it should be a lot of fun. I've never done it, but I understand it's free, and there's usually about a thousand bikes. Show up, let's ride. I'll stick a big piece of tape on my helmet that says "moron" so you can all meet me and be totally unimpressed. Afterwards I'll invite everyone to my place for beer and bratwurst, and none of you will show up. I see where this is going. *******s.

But seriously there is a website with a lot of info on this ride. It's a relatively short ride, with a slow place, and not just serious bikers. I can't do this ride justice, so go to the website or I'll just keep ranting about kids on bigwheels and unicyclists.

Yarr, I saw an Alyeska on eBay last week and thought of you. Not my size, of course, so I didn't bid.

JF1

I hear Dave Zabriskie will probably be at the Josie Johnso Memorial Ride as well. I'm going to try and go to it as well. I'll look for ya Al.

waldowales

Hey Aloyzius,
I'll ride the Josie Memorial if you will. I'll ride an old Schwinn if you will. What say? How about you, Nycycle? Ride the Jeep?

vantassell

Yeah, DZ is going to do a couple of rides/TT's here in a bit. He's doing a hill TT going up Traverse road up to Suncrest

Yarrr

the Josie Johnson Memorial Ride eh? Well sweet, if i don't work i'll be there. i'll be riding my alyeska and looking for a helmet that says "moron" yay!

And about critical mass. . . yeah, some people can be idiots. However, my experience with it so far has been good. People behave because as waldowales said, we don't need another reason for people who drive cars to hate us.

On a side note, i actually got hit the other night. . . nothing bad, just nudged and thrown from my bike by an a****** in a hummer. A HUMMER!!! way to fill the stereotype buddy! Anyway, it was about midnight, he didn't have lights on, and as he drove off he yelled "put that s*** on the sidewalk!". Now what's wrong with this story? 1. he was breaking the law by not having lights 2. i had lights and was therefore being a law abiding citizen 3. he swerved into the bike lane 4. i was in the bike lane (my designated area and protected by law) 5. i was going the speed limit (35mph) 6. he was speeding. . .until he slowed down to give me that nice little tap. Anyway, i didn't get his plates seeing as my face was planted in some nearby grass, however if anyone sees a black hummer with a dent near its front right headlight, feel free to throw rocks, sticks, bike locks etc. . .

oh yeah, my dear bike is fine The spring on her rear break got a wee bent out of shape, but it was easily fixed.

i'll try to get some pics of the Schwinn up Al

Aloyzius

Sorry to hear that, Yarr. I do hate hearing these stories about ignorant jerks on the road. I've been lucky so far. Though Saturday, going up Suncrest (what an awful place) I did have a car swerve suddenly at me and honk. I politely showed him my middle finger, and kept on rolling. Luckily he didn't stop. I'm out there to ride and have a good time, not get my butt laid out on the shoulder of some road.

I get these guys at work all the time, when they find out I bike, they get all macho and talk about stuff they yell at bikers when they see them, and stuff like that. I tell them I carry a rock in my jersey pocket for people just like them. I don't really, but it shuts them up.

Looking at the website, the Josie Johnson ride is pretty short. Eight miles, one way. But there should be a huge number of people there, so that will be fun. It's short enough, it MIGHT be Schwinnable, if I can get up the hill to Sugarhouse park. MAN, that's a heavy bike. If not, I'll come back for the Raleigh.

Yarrr

Rocks eh? What a wonderful idea. . . i've sometimes wondered if i could get away with hand grenades, but am yet to try this method.

i told a few of my friends about the ride and i don't think that i work! yay!!! (i've felt like i've done nothing but work lately, so it will be nice if i have that day off for a ride).

A schwinn eh? What year, style? You must have some determination to go up that hill with a heavy single speed haha

Aloyzius

I believe it's a 76 Schwinn Traveler. It's not a single speed it's a ten. I was thinking of converting it and making it all cool but I've gotten rather fond of it the way it is. I think I might just touch up the paint and leave it alone. The whole point was to get something that wouldn't get ripped off, so I don't want it to be too nice, anyway.

I think on Josie, I might take the Raleigh though. I know I'll ride much more than the eight miles that day.

Waldowales actually sold the bike to me early this summer. He did a nice job tuning it up, and put some new tires on it. He's got some AMAZING Schwinns. He's got this crazy World Traveler from 62(?). It's a two speed with a kick shift. I'd never heard of such a thing. You just barely kick back on the pedals, not enough for the coaster break to kick in, and it shifts back and forth. But he's got it restored beautifully, even recreating the original decals.

Yarrr

sorry, i couldn't make it this weekend i was offered a free massage and just couldn't turn it down. . . it was so very, very nice.

How was the ride?

Aloyzius

The ride was good. I wanted to take that tailwind all the way home both Saturday and Sunday, but had to cut it short both days because of rain. On sunday, I had my leg warmers and windbreaker thing, and every five minutes I was taking them off and putting them back on. I hate autumn.

But the Josie Johnson ride is THIS SATURDAY. Weather will determine what bike I ride, but I'm going to be there even if I have to wear thermal underwear and put coffee in my Camelback. I know, I'm a wuss. I just hate being cold and/or wet and it's been a screwy week so far.

Yarrr

Man, i know it! i was soaking wet all weekend and it even carried over into Monday! i even got hailed on at one point, had to get off my bike and seek shelter (going 20mph into hail hurts a lot). But, i like Autumn. i've been wearing long underwear all week and feel great i've been playing by this rule of thumb: if you are chilly before getting onto your bike, then you are wearing the perfect amount of clothing. i need gloves however, this rule absolutely does not apply to hands, haha. The other day i got off my bike and was pretty sure that my hands would shatter if i were to move them. Time to invest i guess. . . i don't know what happened to my old pair. . . hmmmmm

Aloyzius

Well, Yarrr. It's that time of the month, again. Critical Mass, I mean. I'll be there. As long as the gang behaves, I'll keep showing up. I'm working downtown right now, so that could get interesting. I can just picture my coworkers having their drive interrupted. But I'll be there again. You?

JF1

I work right down town too. Won't be around town at 5:30 on a Friday though.

Aloyzius

Well, I WAS downtown at 5:30 but my baby made an appointment for flu shots, so no CM this month.

Do you commute, JF1? We should ride after work some time. While there's still daylight.

JF1

That would be great but I usually don't get off work until after 7:00pm or so. I usually get my rides done in the morning since I go in later than most. My schedule changes occasionally so if I do get some time, I'll pm ya.

Joe