Getting to Know You, Intimately
#77
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Depends which definition of "Fred" you're using--there's at least two, and they are distinct and somewhat contradictory.
There's Fred the bodger, who rides the hell out of old bikes and homebrew kit/equipment, and then there's Fred the lifestyle guy, with all of the latest and bestest.
There's Fred the bodger, who rides the hell out of old bikes and homebrew kit/equipment, and then there's Fred the lifestyle guy, with all of the latest and bestest.
This got me thinking about the origins of 'Fred 2' (your latter definition). Might well have been BSNYC, back in the day.
#78
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https://www.smithsonianmag.com/histo...world-1462409/
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#79
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IIRC, there are some good reasons for that attribution. Will always be some question about it, but as good as any. Certainly captures the 'spirit' of Fred. Another, much more recent example, is the late, great Patrick Plaine.
Last edited by badger1; 12-29-22 at 02:00 PM.
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#80
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Depends which definition of "Fred" you're using--there's at least two, and they are distinct and somewhat contradictory.
There's Fred the bodger, who rides the hell out of old bikes and homebrew kit/equipment, and then there's Fred the lifestyle guy, with all of the latest and bestest.
There's Fred the bodger, who rides the hell out of old bikes and homebrew kit/equipment, and then there's Fred the lifestyle guy, with all of the latest and bestest.
It appears, by looking at the definition, that ‘intimate’ is most commonly characterized as, “characterized by a close or warm personal relationship”. Sex ranks way down the list. Can’t say that I have a warm or personal relationship, other than a utilitarian, with my bikes. But then I am not a romantic. And to quote Jerry Seinfeld, “ Not that I have a problem with that.”
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Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
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Last edited by rsbob; 12-29-22 at 01:40 PM.
#81
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I prefer the Flintstone variety. Yaba daba dooooooo!
It appears, by looking at the definition, that ‘intimate’ is most commonly characterized as, “characterized by a close or warm personal relationship”. Sex ranks way down the list. Can’t say that I have a warm or personal relationship, other than a utilitarian, with my bikes. But then I am not a romantic. And to quote Jerry Seinfeld, “ Not that I have a problem with that.”
It appears, by looking at the definition, that ‘intimate’ is most commonly characterized as, “characterized by a close or warm personal relationship”. Sex ranks way down the list. Can’t say that I have a warm or personal relationship, other than a utilitarian, with my bikes. But then I am not a romantic. And to quote Jerry Seinfeld, “ Not that I have a problem with that.”
There's another sense of the word "intimate" as an adjective as in "He has intimate knowledge of the details", but one wouldn't describe that person as being intimate with the details or the knowledge. There's no sense of a personal relationship in that usage. I don't think there's a sentence where "intimacy" can be used that way.
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#82
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The bike of Fred Birchmore, possibly the original original Fred:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/histo...world-1462409/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/histo...world-1462409/
Fred Birchmore's bike was a one-speed, 42-pound Reinhardt that he named Bucephalus, after Alexander the Great's horse.
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"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
#83
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#85
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I too have only one bike. Well, technically two, but I claim that since each is permanently resident in one of two locations, I can weasel out of a charge of polygyny.
And I can go further: I can lay my hand on my heart -- or indeed anyone else's heart -- and say that I have not had intimate relations with either bike.
#86
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I can wholly agree. I think N+1 is a great formula for collecting but truthfully I believe I do have too many bikes and not all of them ones I really want to ride. I have built some stuff that is great but I just don't ride it and while two of them are ones I love staring at a couple I just don't really need anymore. I would rather just get rid of some of it and build an upgraded version that I want to ride more. I have gotten to know some of the bikes but these days I am not riding them as much so figuring out a better solution would be ideal.
If I had the money I would probably sell my Langster and build up my ultimate dream fixed gear road bike out of titanium and possibly also get rid of the Cinelli Mash Work and build up a gravel bike with plenty of tire clearance that I could run single speed if I wanted and maybe also make it rack compatible and then maybe get rid of a couple road bikes and just run them all as a 1x gravel bike. I could probably figure out different wheels and swapping chainrings and cassettes and maybe do some magic numbering to not have to swap the chain each time? I don't know but I would like to have a smaller collection so it is easier to manage and find what I want to ride and ride them all more often.
If I had the money I would probably sell my Langster and build up my ultimate dream fixed gear road bike out of titanium and possibly also get rid of the Cinelli Mash Work and build up a gravel bike with plenty of tire clearance that I could run single speed if I wanted and maybe also make it rack compatible and then maybe get rid of a couple road bikes and just run them all as a 1x gravel bike. I could probably figure out different wheels and swapping chainrings and cassettes and maybe do some magic numbering to not have to swap the chain each time? I don't know but I would like to have a smaller collection so it is easier to manage and find what I want to ride and ride them all more often.
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#87
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#88
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Well I have to say, I own 7 bikes and most of my riding is on two of them. That is not to say I don't know the others pretty well, but they don't get a lot of attention and at least two haven't been ridden in over two years.
I guess you could say I am intimate with 2 of my bikes, friends with 3 of them and have drifted apart from the remaining 2.
I guess you could say I am intimate with 2 of my bikes, friends with 3 of them and have drifted apart from the remaining 2.
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This makes a lot of sense to me, and reflects my experience and perceptions to a large degree. I think that if my situation were different, I would buy a Gunnar Sport and just outfit it in whichever way I needed, because that bike (frame-set) can do it all. Your post is the kind of feedback I needed, and while most reasonable people would either donate or sell a few bikes, I think I will do my best this summer to give them their due attention and miles. Actually, my M80 is a great road bike, touring bike, cargo bike, daily shopper, and, if I rode in the dirt, even a mountain bike, so I could make-do with that.
Haven't ridden it up to the snow in years but I could possibly do that this weekend.
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#90
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"Intimate" is an interesting word, and I think the trend is increasingly towards using it as a euphemism for "sexual". Even in its nonsexual sense, I do think it's a very weird word choice as I think "intimacy" really has to be a two-way thing and a utilitarian object can't reciprocate..
The only other logical conclusion involves a hypothetical scenario in which someone forgot to replace the saddle on the seat post before embarking for a ride.
But why the "getting to know you ..." part? Every time I read that, I have to reach for the eye-wash.
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Well you sure have taken "icky" to a whole new level here, haven't you?
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#92
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#93
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Just to be clear:
;-) == "winkie of absolution"
== "creepy winkie"
;-) == "winkie of absolution"
== "creepy winkie"
#94
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I try to keep the numbers down, though I do a lot of different riding, so I still have 4 bikes: Fat, FS MTB, Gravel/Road, and utility/errand.
If I lived somewhere with a much shorter winter, I’d probably lose the Fat bike.
I’m the same way with music. I have one electric guitar, one steel string acoustic, one classical. One electric bass, one standup.
I know some musicians who will have multiple electrics or acoustics, but I’d rather just work with one.
Maybe if I was a pro, I’d have backup instruments or bikes.
If I lived somewhere with a much shorter winter, I’d probably lose the Fat bike.
I’m the same way with music. I have one electric guitar, one steel string acoustic, one classical. One electric bass, one standup.
I know some musicians who will have multiple electrics or acoustics, but I’d rather just work with one.
Maybe if I was a pro, I’d have backup instruments or bikes.
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#96
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I have tried to stay busy in the winter in these last seven years, and have built a bike during each one. I know some riders or collectors advocate that one should buy, or build, yet another bike, no matter the present number, but what I have learnt is that, in the attempt to keep them all in a "rotation" and active, I have distanced myself from them, in that I do not get to really "know" any of them. Has anyone else discovered this phenomenon? What did you do about it? I am considering choosing one bike per summer and really establishing a relationship with it.
My original gravel hybrid is my winter beater for roads and 12 month light trail use but I ride it in the city or as commuter or running errands.
My single speed gravel bike is for rainy days so I don't have to maintain the drivetrain or clean it. I also use it for commuting and errand running 12 mo a year.
My fat bike is great in the snow but doubles as my mountain bike as well and I use it 12 mo a year. My original mountain bike I traded it for my nice fat bike. I like the big tires and no suspension better, no maintenance, more grip, better climbing. Plus I don't like technical trails or drops.
My Italy bike stays there. I ride it a month or so per year when I'm out there so I got a cheaper one on purpose.
All have been upgraded w/ better components as things worse out or in some cases I just wanted something better like GPS mounts, water bottles, flat/spare equipment, going tubless, some have carbon wheels or better groupset. Over time this is the joy of owning them as you slowly build them into what you prefer.
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#97
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Yes, I have tried to assign "slots" for each bike. The Technium is the lightest and largest, so handles the long-distance duties. The Moser is its backup. The Grubb is for 40 miles and shorter, as is the Manufrance. The Barnard I have just built, so I'm not sure what distances it will occupy, but I have a fixed gear wheelset for it, too. The M80 is my winter utility ride and my summer tourer. The Rudge is basically summer utility with some short jaunts thrown in. I think part of my problem is that where I live, I only have a 90-day window, June 15 to Sept 15 to ride. Maybe I can expand that a bit.