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I recently sent off a sample to get tested. I'm awaiting its return.
It seems like most people around here could care less about the water situation. Its full of fertilizer, fracking, and oilfield runoff. The city indicates levels near max threshold. Some speculate this data originates from specific samples designed to be within limits. In last years report cyanide was above maximum limits. They indicated this was a result of decomposing fertilizer runoff. The problem is no one really seems to care. I guess that's the west Texas mentality, or oilfield culture. Ive heard people around here talking about how they could care less about the environment, and do what they can to pollute it. No bs. Lots of people around here are also known to just drain there engine oil right on the ground. People around here like removing there catalytic converters for whatever stupid reason, and half the cars stink to the high heavens when driving around. No emissions testing, and many inspectors fail to care. I'm not sure if its mass ignorance, or if they've all been drinking their water too long. Everyone around here also complains about living in a crap hole, but its the people complaining who made it the way it is. I just don't get it, and I quit trying to care. You cant make this stuff up, and it really sickens me. I can't wait to graduate and move out of this place. I'm beginning to feel the pride of traveling by bike once again. Using my bike for carrying groceries that's the best. Actually working for it. Any monkey with a foot can push a gas pedal in a car. I used to think drag racing and stuff was cool. I still like the idea of going fast, well at least the thrill of acceleration. Going fast is all the same it doesn't matter what your going fast in. Just pushing an accelerator pedal to the floor takes no skill whatsoever. There is no connection with the road. The fact is, when biking, I become one with the road, and the world around me. |
Originally Posted by Radical Rick
(Post 20435266)
I recently sent off a sample to get tested. I'm awaiting its return.
It seems like most people around here could care less about the water situation. Its full of fertilizer, fracking, and oilfield runoff. The city indicates levels near max threshold. Some speculate this data originates from specific samples designed to be within limits. In last years report cyanide was above maximum limits. They indicated this was a result of decomposing fertilizer runoff. The problem is no one really seems to care. I guess that's the west Texas mentality, or oilfield culture. Ive heard people around here talking about how they could care less about the environment, and do what they can to pollute it. No bs. Lots of people around here are also known to just drain there engine oil right on the ground. People around here like removing there catalytic converters for whatever stupid reason, and half the cars stink to the high heavens when driving around. No emissions testing, and many inspectors fail to care. I'm not sure if its mass ignorance, or if they've all been drinking their water too long. Everyone around here also complains about living in a crap hole, but its the people complaining who made it the way it is. I just don't get it, and I quit trying to care. You cant make this stuff up, and it really sickens me. I can't wait to graduate and move out of this place. I'm beginning to feel the pride of traveling by bike once again. Using my bike for carrying groceries that's the best. Actually working for it. Any monkey with a foot can push a gas pedal in a car. I used to think drag racing and stuff was cool. I still like the idea of going fast, well at least the thrill of acceleration. Going fast is all the same it doesn't matter what your going fast in. Just pushing an accelerator pedal to the floor takes no skill whatsoever. There is no connection with the road. The fact is, when biking, I become one with the road, and the world around me. I believe this apathy is a symptom of voter disenfranchisement. Texas politicians have figured out an obvious truth; less voter participation is instrumental in maintaining the status quo and that status quo has been VERY good to them. If clean drinking water and environmental protections are important to you, I'm sure there are people all around you who agree but don't believe the changes are possible, and they may be right... But it's not like political dissidents are being rounded up and sent to re-education camps (yet), so there's no harm in openly advocating for representatives who align with your desire for a more citizen friendly city who will protect and not degrade those they serve. The least you can do is vote, every election. As a commuter, I reap the benefits of bike lanes and bike friendly infrastructure in the city I live. How do these bike lanes get there? Well it's not random do-gooders out there with buckets of white paint, it's the citizenry voting up or down bond issues that get these things done with the taxes we ALL contribute. So again, not to put too fine a point on it, if these issues are important to you the LEAST you can do is VOTE. |
Originally Posted by Radical Rick
(Post 20435266)
I recently sent off a sample to get tested. I'm awaiting its return.
It seems like most people around here could care less about the water situation. Its full of fertilizer, fracking, and oilfield runoff. The city indicates levels near max threshold. Some speculate this data originates from specific samples designed to be within limits. In last years report cyanide was above maximum limits. They indicated this was a result of decomposing fertilizer runoff. The problem is no one really seems to care. I guess that's the west Texas mentality, or oilfield culture. Ive heard people around here talking about how they could care less about the environment, and do what they can to pollute it. No bs. Lots of people around here are also known to just drain there engine oil right on the ground. People around here like removing there catalytic converters for whatever stupid reason, and half the cars stink to the high heavens when driving around. No emissions testing, and many inspectors fail to care. I'm not sure if its mass ignorance, or if they've all been drinking their water too long. Everyone around here also complains about living in a crap hole, but its the people complaining who made it the way it is. I just don't get it, and I quit trying to care. You cant make this stuff up, and it really sickens me. I can't wait to graduate and move out of this place. https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations It appears to be a Texas thing. https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01...d-rural-areas/ |
I should have mentioned the trick you discovered, but you got it. I didn't even notice I do that, which is to use a basket in the store instead of a cart.
Gatorade and the like are good if you're doing a long athletic effort such as a long bike ride. If you're not, then it's junk food. I do drink Gatorade on long rides. And it does help. And yes, crushable stuff on top. Peaches are very delicate, as is most fruit but not apples. |
Originally Posted by dedhed
(Post 20435437)
I work for a water utility and I can't tell you how closely scrutinized water quality is here. https://city.milwaukee.gov/water/Wat...y#.W0J2wujwbrc
https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations It appears to be a Texas thing. https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01...d-rural-areas/ |
Ya. I know how bike friendly Austin is. That's my hometown, born and raised. Growing up, I used to ride throughout the entire city, like a giant playground. Night rides around UT were the best. I just cant believe how much its grown in the last five or so years. Its incredible how much a place can change so fast. Even since starting school, every time I visit, there's a new high rise, or giant apartment complex. Cool stuff that used to be there is no longer there. Its kind of sad really.
Today I managed to piece together a temporary long distance commuter. I found a heap of a bike tossed in the trash near my house. The bike has been sitting so long the tires had fallen off the rims. The bike is a Kent hard-tail mountain bike 6061 aluminum, wally world special. It had these funky thick aluminum rims that require extra long valve-stem tubes, and a cheapo disk brake setup. I swapped out the forks to fit a regular rim up front, and swapped in a matching rear wheel. I cleaned and greased everything, and its all ready to go. I managed to build a completely free bike. I may try to find some tubes so I can use the rims that came with it. This find really made my day. Now I have a bike suitable for hauling stuff, more than I can fit in my pack. If I can find the time I may attempt to fabricate a rear rack. I have access to a scrap bin full of aircraft grade aluminum tubing, and alclad plate. I just need inspiration for the design of it. |
[MENTION=485841]Radical Rick[/MENTION], where are you now? I'm sure I'd like to see Austin and probably a few other parts of Texas. I've only ever passed through.
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Originally Posted by Radical Rick
(Post 20438097)
Ya. I know how bike friendly Austin is. That's my hometown, born and raised. Growing up, I used to ride throughout the entire city, like a giant playground. Night rides around UT were the best. I just cant believe how much its grown in the last five or so years. Its incredible how much a place can change so fast. Even since starting school, every time I visit, there's a new high rise, or giant apartment complex. Cool stuff that used to be there is no longer there. Its kind of sad really.
Well, as merely a Texan native I can't claim to have seen Austin in the heyday that so many of the "born here" folks so bitterly lament. Hell! After Dallas, Durham, Princeton and now Austin, it wins HANDS DOWN in MY experience. Durham was pretty awesome, the Tobacco Trail is what started me down the cycling path years ago and so far it's the only place I've lived that I'd leave Austin for. New Jersey? Well my favorite parts of THAT place were Philadelphia (yeah-yeah, a REAL s-hole, RIIIIIGHT? Not to me!) and New York, everything else in between? Fuhgeddaboudit... I've been living in Austin for about 7 years, and the wife and I run a B&B on the side that's been VERY productive. However, she's wearing thin on the Austin experience as well so I suppose our days here a numbered after all... But I'll be sad to leave it, even if some of my "new to you, old to me" places get swept away by the ocean of money pouring into this place, change is hard... |
Originally Posted by dedhed
(Post 20435437)
I work for a water utility and I can't tell you how closely scrutinized water quality is here. https://city.milwaukee.gov/water/Wat...y#.W0J2wujwbrc
https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations It appears to be a Texas thing. https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01...d-rural-areas/ That guy quoted, "the president of the Grassland Water Supply Corporation", is emblematic of "the Texas thing" that's been a problem for decades. |
Wow, I really have taken tap water for granted. It doesn't taste good in New Jersey, but it's OK, and people drink it. In New York, it's superb. People who visit and haven't heard about it are amazed.
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Originally Posted by noglider
(Post 20439000)
Wow, I really have taken tap water for granted. It doesn't taste good in New Jersey, but it's OK, and people drink it. In New York, it's superb. People who visit and haven't heard about it are amazed.
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Our weekend house is in the upstate area where NYC's water comes from. Our well water there is also fantastic. We are blessed.
Our dog (RIP) liked to drink from muddy puddles there. I figure the minerals were good for her. |
Originally Posted by noglider
(Post 20439000)
Wow, I really have taken tap water for granted. It doesn't taste good in New Jersey, but it's OK, and people drink it. In New York, it's superb. People who visit and haven't heard about it are amazed.
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I will have to take your word for it. I've never been to NY. I would like to see that place some day. I guess when I do make it up there I don't have to worry about water.
I know I will get some kind of hell for saying this, but I would like to try my hand at being a bike messenger, at least for a day or something. I don't know why, its just something I've wanted to do for a while now. I couldn't do it on a fixie though. I just don't understand how people can ride those. I've never tried to ride one, and to me it seems physically impossible. How do their legs ever get a rest? It seems like those bikes would tear up a persons knees real fast like. I don't get it because if your going down hill do you keep pedaling real fast, or do you relax your legs? They just don't seem practical for long distances. |
Everything except real squishy items in a knapsack. Bread and other delicates swinging in a second bag from the knapsack. Been doing it this way for years.
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Originally Posted by Radical Rick
(Post 20443901)
I will have to take your word for it. I've never been to NY. I would like to see that place some day. I guess when I do make it up there I don't have to worry about water.
I know I will get some kind of hell for saying this, but I would like to try my hand at being a bike messenger, at least for a day or something. I don't know why, its just something I've wanted to do for a while now. I couldn't do it on a fixie though. I just don't understand how people can ride those. I've never tried to ride one, and to me it seems physically impossible. How do their legs ever get a rest? It seems like those bikes would tear up a persons knees real fast like. I don't get it because if your going down hill do you keep pedaling real fast, or do you relax your legs? They just don't seem practical for long distances. Bike messenger work does have a mystique, and I think about it. It looks very hard to me, and the pay is total crap. Too many of those guys ride fixed with no brake, though it is becoming out of fashion, thank goodness. The new crop of couriers are Latin American, and they're short. They take mountain bikes and re-equip them with light and narrow racing wheels, because those bikes fit them better. Sometimes I fantacize about being a professional cyclist (such as courier), but it's a very hard life. We get winter here, and most of them don't quit. I've seen them ride in snow that doesn't even let a bike roll through. They get off and on, as conditions permit. Riding fixed is not as hard as you think. You might understand why people like it, even if you decide you don't. There are some nice things about it. You control your speed more finely, and in winter, the constant motion keeps you warm. Yes you do pedal fast downhill, and you don't see many people riding fixed on big hills. It is a workout, and the longest ride I've ridden fixed is ten miles. That was enough for me, but some people do long distances. |
Originally Posted by Radical Rick
(Post 20443901)
I will have to take your word for it. I've never been to NY. I would like to see that place some day. I guess when I do make it up there I don't have to worry about water.
I know I will get some kind of hell for saying this, but I would like to try my hand at being a bike messenger, at least for a day or something. I don't know why, its just something I've wanted to do for a while now. I couldn't do it on a fixie though. I just don't understand how people can ride those. I've never tried to ride one, and to me it seems physically impossible. How do their legs ever get a rest? It seems like those bikes would tear up a persons knees real fast like. I don't get it because if your going down hill do you keep pedaling real fast, or do you relax your legs? They just don't seem practical for long distances. If you want to try it for a few days just work for Foodora or SkipTheDishes or what have you. Anyone can do it. Usually you just have to buy the bag($50 or so). I'm not sure where you live but if it's a good sized city then it'll be no problem. You could ride weekends or evenings to get a taste of what it's like. Then sell the bag on Kijiji when you've had your fill. |
Thanks for the offer Tom. I may take you up on that. If I do it will be a few months away, like next spring. I really appreciate it. I'm considering buying a cheap fixie to try it out. I'm just waiting for one to come up for same that doesn't look like a bag of skittles. I cant stand all those colorful tires and random parts its just not my style. Ive had my eye on a suglyama, but its orange with yellow tires. The dude is dead set on getting 150 for it.
The heat here has been killer this week. Right now at 9pm it is still 97 out. Its been hitting about 110 during the day all week. I haven't been riding much this week. Just about an hour in the evenings. Just a little while ago I left for a ride and right out of the driveway my front tire ballooned out. It split right in the middle. It was weird i was riding along and it just started falling apart. I'm really glad it happened in front of my house. I turned around and was able to ride back to my door. Tire got way worse riding back. All the bike stores are closed on Sunday so I might just buy a tire offline. Following the tire failure, I took the free trash pile bike on a maiden voyage. Its a real pig, but its ride able. I do like the speed. I can cruise flat out in top gear. It really moves out. I don't like the way it handles though. It don't think it could ever corner like the bmx. Once I get it dialed in it will make a great sprinter. I'm building it up to be a beater bike that I don't need to worry about locking up at the store. I think Ill ride it untill I get to the Trek. I will probably end up selling it cheap, or giving it to a student who needs transport. I found a dude on youtube that does bmx deliveries in New York. This dude is some kind of badass. I never thought it could be possible, but I guess it its. I guess I could try bicycle delivering when I'm in Austin. I don't think its that big there, but I might be mistaken. |
Originally Posted by Radical Rick
(Post 20443901)
I know I will get some kind of hell for saying this, but I would like to try my hand at being a bike messenger, at least for a day or something. I don't know why, its just something I've wanted to do for a while now. I couldn't do it on a fixie though. I just don't understand how people can ride those. I've never tried to ride one, and to me it seems physically impossible. How do their legs ever get a rest? It seems like those bikes would tear up a persons knees real fast like. I don't get it because if your going down hill do you keep pedaling real fast, or do you relax your legs? They just don't seem practical for long distances. I rode fixed gear on the road for about 7 years, 3 of which were in a pretty hilly place. Even did a fixed gear century (with about 4000' elevation gain) just to say I did it :) It's not particularly difficult unless you're looking at some pretty nasty grades uphill or downhill; after a few weeks, your legs just kind of figure out what to do. I'd ride fixed a lot more if I lived someplace flat or were doing urban commuting in an actual city. The (non-fixed) single speed is currently a better option, because that downhill speed is just way too much fun. |
A lot of the fixed gear couriers end up racing on the track in Queens (Kissena Velodrome). I met one a few years ago, and I encouraged him to get into it. He was about 18 at the time. Now I see he is racing, so I'm glad.
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Originally Posted by Radical Rick
(Post 20461846)
Thanks for the offer Tom. I may take you up on that. If I do it will be a few months away, like next spring. I really appreciate it. I'm considering buying a cheap fixie to try it out. I'm just waiting for one to come up for same that doesn't look like a bag of skittles. I cant stand all those colorful tires and random parts its just not my style. Ive had my eye on a suglyama, but its orange with yellow tires. The dude is dead set on getting 150 for it.
The heat here has been killer this week. Right now at 9pm it is still 97 out. Its been hitting about 110 during the day all week. I haven't been riding much this week. Just about an hour in the evenings. Just a little while ago I left for a ride and right out of the driveway my front tire ballooned out. It split right in the middle. It was weird i was riding along and it just started falling apart. I'm really glad it happened in front of my house. I turned around and was able to ride back to my door. Tire got way worse riding back. All the bike stores are closed on Sunday so I might just buy a tire offline. Following the tire failure, I took the free trash pile bike on a maiden voyage. Its a real pig, but its ride able. I do like the speed. I can cruise flat out in top gear. It really moves out. I don't like the way it handles though. It don't think it could ever corner like the bmx. Once I get it dialed in it will make a great sprinter. I'm building it up to be a beater bike that I don't need to worry about locking up at the store. I think Ill ride it untill I get to the Trek. I will probably end up selling it cheap, or giving it to a student who needs transport. I found a dude on youtube that does bmx deliveries in New York. This dude is some kind of badass. I never thought it could be possible, but I guess it its. I guess I could try bicycle delivering when I'm in Austin. I don't think its that big there, but I might be mistaken. Maybe you could get in with the pedi-cab guys but they're a protective bunch, and I don't really have the temperament to haul drunken dude bro's around sixth street. |
I just don't see much need for bicycle delivery in Austin. Most I could figure would be like gathering groceries at whole foods and taking them up a high rise. I can't see myself or anyone pedaling up Lamar to grab a taco then all the way back to wherever. Just seems like too many hills, and to spread out. Like maybe just around UT or something, but college kids don't tip all that great.
I got my new tire in the mail. Sticky like glue. Best money ever spent. Kenda makes a quality tire. Only thing is I broke by brakes. Cable snapped #nobrakes lol. Oh well. The bmx is so much nicer than that crappy wally world bike I built. If there was a cliff around here I wouldn't hesitate to throw it right off. No joke. I can see if someone who has never ridden a bike before decides to buy a crappy wally world bike they could be discouraged from riding ever again. If I find a cliff I would toss it. I feel like I would need to pay somebody to take it from me. If someone stole it I would be happy and the thief disappointed. |
By the way, there is a heavy trend in NYC to e-bikes for commercial delivery. I've heard that the guys pedaling bikes can't keep up with the number of deliveries the e-bike riders are making. To make money, you have to do a number of deliveries a day, and the speed of the e-bike helps a lot. It's a mess because e-bikes aren't classified as anything, not a moped, not a bicycle, not a motorcycle. So they're illegal. That's insane. Classify them! Requiring licensing and registration is probably a good idea. Then the e-bikes won't have quite as much advantage over pedal bikes. But things are getting dangerous with all the rambunctious riding of e-bikes. And then the police have blitzes where the bikes are confiscated, which is blow to people at the bottom of the economic ladder.
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A friend used to get groceries using a large messenger bag. I'm a rack and panniers guy myself but it seemed to work well for him when he did it.
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A lesson about panniers came back to me yesterday. I've been using panniers on my daily commutes lately to avoid having a hot and sweaty back from a backpack. I was barely carrying anything, so the heavy-ish bags were overkill, but it didn't matter. Then I met friends for dinner, and we did a little walking. And we had to stand around, waiting for a restaurant to have a table for us. Carrying a pair of panniers is never easy, and these weren't even very laden. Panniers are great for on the bike, but they are one of the worst things off the bike.
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