Took the Nature Boy out for a 70k cruise along a fairly flat out and back. Sitting at a hair under 70" and it's plenty nice for overall cruising and short sharp hills, just gotta get my legs back after doing bare minimum commutering and the like for the past 8 months.

Looking to eventually bang out a century this year, geared or SS I've yet to decide.

Another mtb commute this morning, taking off in a few minutes. How cool is that?!?!! It takes about 75 minutes, is ~80% trail, and pieces together two different canyon systems/open spaces in central SD.



It's been raining a lot for SD...

I will be commuting soon as I am moving further away from work, however, it will be through Manhattan. Suffice it to say I am jealous.

Not jealous of a commute through Manhattan lol. Public transportation would be the way to go IMO over there. I have a sister in Brooklyn and am impressed by how efficient and widespread the infrastructure there is relative to San Diego.

If you're time limited and have few opportunities to ride outside of commuting, then ya gotta do what you gotta do I suppose.

I start work at 6am, so bicycle will be the way to go as early morning trains are garbage. Plus, Its only going to be about 5 miles each way [80-90 blocks]. Although I might move back in with my parents for a month until I find a new place, and they live 30 miles from work, that would be a bit too much of a commute.

My dad lives in Queens and bike commutes. He tells me it's the most efficient way to get around the city. He's also a few weeks shy of 67. I think it may just be doable for someone younger and fitter.

Yeah my sister does it all the time too. Personally I don't think I'd be cut out for it

Today I went out for 25 miles. I'm kinda itching to ride single-speed a bit more, since my SS has been relegated to running errands and riding to the bar lately. Maybe this weekend...

Today I denuded my Cross Check of all her parts and warshed her. She's now sitting naked on the floor downstairs. Tomorrow night I'll put on a full Shimano 5800 groupset*. (that's been sitting in my apartment since November... )


*) Subbing new CX brakes for the 105 calipers, of course.

When I visited I was surprised how easy it was. Traffic is a lot slower out there than out here and there is a kind of controlled chaos that lets you, as a cyclist, be a lot more commanding of your position on the road. I actually felt much more comfortable riding around there than I do in LA.

Interesting. I can't say I have much experience riding through really urban areas, like downtown in any big city. A little in San Diego during my #fixie days, but San Diego isn't that big and scary. Fortunately I don't have to for any utilitarian reason, and why would I? I'm beginning to become a little more risk adverse with my cycling as I get older.

I've ridden two or three times in Brooklyn. Wasn't bad. But then it was just for fun and not commuting. Can imagine at rush hour it can get intense.

Today I'm trying to decide if I want to ride a century this weekend on 62 GI or 72 GI SS or go for broke and do it fixed.

Do it fixed! I've done a few fixed gear centuries, and haven't regretted them at all. I was happiest at ~69 GI: 47/18 on 28mm tires.

I've done two fixed. One at 75 GI and one at 81 GI.

But I kinda want to be competitive. Think SS will keep me fresher/ faster in the long run.

Fixed century sounds epic - I might have to try that someday.

today i got in the last new 58cm british racing green rim brake all-city space horse frame in the country. the plan is to do a frame swap from the rivendell to the space horse tomorrow.
i'm really torn on this, though. id like a bike that does everything the riv does that's a little more nimble.
things i think i'll like about the space horse: shorter chaninstays/wheelbase, one top tube, threadless headset, horizontal dropouts, something i wouldn't feel terribly about getting banged up touring/locking up etc.
things i like about the rivendell: beautiful lugged tubing, paint job, panache of the rivendell brand, having a bike very other few people have, the cadillac ride, a little fatter tire clearance.
i generally prefer a little sportier geometry- even in a touring and commuter bike. but damn, if this rivendell doesn't ride so smooth.
i don't want to build up the space horse by itself because a) i don't have enough spare parts to build up a complete bike and b) there would be too much overlap between it and the riv.
first world problems, huh?

I think you might regret getting rid of the Riv.

[MENTION=112127]johnnytheboy[/MENTION] do you have any bikes that you plan on keeping for the long run? I know you mentioned a few posts back that you enjoy building, riding and selling bikes.

still waiting to find that mythical beast.

hahaha holy ****. A dura Ace spoon. Brilliant.
[MENTION=112127]johnnytheboy[/MENTION] what are you thinking of replacing the JA with?

space horse rim brake. 58cm british racing green.

Today I shipped a Leader frame I sold on ebay and delivered the Contender II build I completed last year to a friend, and used the money to buy a Steamroller. Excited to experiment with different ways to build up this bike over the next few seasons instead of always looking for what's "next."

I like this.

People are so unsettled nowadays, anxious for greener grass which always appears to be just over the fence.

Everything is about the experience. We don't buy a car but have a "car buying experience. How things make us feel is more important than the thing itself.


-Tim-

Thanks. Yea what's even funnier is that last few builds or bikes I've been on have been one lateral move to the next in the mid range market (Leader Cretin, State Contender, etc). It's been a learning curve but oh well. I know the Steamroller is not a huge step up in terms of the Steel Frame market but the people who like theirs really love them and they seem to serve them well for years. It also seems like a bike that I can "mature" with well, if that makes any sense.

i bought a steel de rosa mtb frame to build up like that rivendell.