Originally Posted by
Darth Lefty
Feeling a weird, not exactly skip feeling but a giving away that didn’t seem to line up with anything. Third break in a few months after having no chain problems for years and years. I can’t even remember the last one before this year that I broke riding, although there may have been a few bent stiff from hauling them around. I had a really awful shift a few weeks ago, with a big twang. Maybe that was it.
I wonder what could have caused that. One possibility is that it's not made by the company you think. I've seen stories of counterfeits.
Often, when I think of taking my fixed gear bike, I get a feeling of "oh, that would be such a chore" but it's an unnecessary feeling. I guess I've really become comfortable on it. One challenge on a fixie is going down hills. The speed gets up high enough to where it's hard for your legs to keep up, and your body is bouncing and not spinning smoothly. On my way home yesterday (Monday), I was on the downward incline on the Brooklyn Bridge going about 20 mph, and it felt almost as if I was freewheeling.
One thing that is gratifying about bike commuting is seeing myself improve at whatever measure. I can't say I'm faster than others because I'm not anymore. I can't say I'm faster than I used to be because I'm slower than before. But now I spin more smoothly and comfortably than before. Maybe the next challenge is to lower my gear ratio so I have to spin faster. Just kidding, I'm not likely to do that.
Road kill report: this time, two birds. That's weird. Why am I so obsessed with road kill?
No bike commuting because no work today and tomorrow. It's Jewish New Year, and NYC schools are closed. I'm observing the holiday. Yay!