The comforting beat of bamboo

Maybe I've been reading too much Bike Snob, but I saw something today that made me cringe. Yehuda Moon’s sponsor, ClankWorks, is the purveyor of bamboo bicycle fenders (that is, fenders made of bamboo and intended to be attached to bicycles, not necessarily fenders for bamboo bicycles, though I'm sure they could be attached to such a bike as well as one made of steel or recycled underpants). Now, in and of itself, the bamboo fender has a sort of appeal, I admit, so I investigated further, despite my misgivings caused by the name of the site: clanking is not a sound you really want to associate with any part of your bike, after all, and the bamboo fender, even if poorly mounted, would likely produce not a clank but more of a gentle thud or thump akin to native girls beating wooden drums during the halftime show at the Aloha Bowl. Unless the fender comes loose entirely. Then you might hear some clanking as it destroys your Campagnolo derailleur.

Upon further investigation, however, I discovered that ClankWorks is a self-described “small cycling boutique” that provides “stylish solutions for the modern and design conscious cyclist.” Well, I suppose I am too old-fashioned and design unconscious to know for sure, but I have always though of boutiques as places that sell perfume and very expensive dresses and shoes that are intended to be uncomfortable. In other words, the antithesis of all things cycling-related. Best of all, however, the physical location of the “boutique” is Pittsburgh, PA. Again, when I think of Pitt, I think Big Ben, Terrible Towels, the ghost of Terry Bradshaw’s hair, and rusting steel mills. What I never thought of, at least not until now, was bamboo. Perhaps the “boutique” should sell cycling cleats made of bamboo, to clip into bamboo pedals. That arrangement could easily be made as uncomfortable as the shoes traditionally sold in boutiques.

Contest!

Logic suggests I should keep this info to myself, thus reducing the field of competition by thousands and thereby increasing my chances of winning. Oh, well: Cycling News is giving away David Millar's bike. Presumably they have David Millar's permission to do this.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/now-online-the-2010-cyclingnews-reader-poll

Bikes in the snow

The snow near Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, prevented me from doing anything more strenuous than taking a picture of my single-speed 29er this morning. Not being sure I would like riding a single-speed very much, I went for an inexpensive Stout/Southeast from the Jenson website. Or rather, I

knew I would like it, but I didn't know how well I would fare on it here in ridge country. Much to my surprise, it's not that much harder to just stand up and power on up the hills. So now I'm thinking it might be fun to get hold of a single-speed (non-fixie) road bike.

The only changes I've made to the bike are to add a computer and a bottle cage and replace the original saddle post, which did not adjust up quite far enough for me, with a Truvativ. The saddle itself is a WTB knock-off, but it's just as comfortable as the WTB on my Fuji, so no point in changing it.

If only I were as tough as Kenny Mayne, I wouldn't let a little snow stop me. Mayne was featured on ESPN's NFL pre-game show this morning, riding a really cool cruiser bike and wearing a football helmet. Move over, Alberto. You got yourself some competition.

Also just 'cause I like it:

http://www.sushibandit.com/uploaded_images/wine-787760.jpg:

Just 'cause I like it:

The contest

I hear Bicycling Mag is having a contest for best amateur bike mechanic. Since Bicycling Mag became a shill for Floyd Landis, Specialized, and the other companies that sell overpriced stuff most of us don't need, and since Bike Snob's column was the only thing worth reading in the whole mag (unless they do a nude centerfold of the Fit Chick, which technically would involve less reading and more . . . well, you know), I don't subscribe to the mag. But I would offer this advice: a contest for the WORST mechanic who nevertheless manages to keep upright and rolling would be much more interesting. Just how many miles can you ride on a worn-out chain? How many more times can you patch a tube whose surface area already has a ratio of tube-to-patch that has definitely shifted toward the patch end of the scale? Does duct tape have any useful application in the repair of brakes for fixies or other inherently unsafe two-wheeled conveyances? The answers to all these questions would be much more interesting than awarding a prize to someone who's figured out that WD40 and lemon Pledge do wonders for a bicycle chain, or at least give it that fresh citrus scent that all the girls just love.

One speed and counting

I plan to eventually post some pictures of my single-speed 29er. Meanwhile, some random reflections on riding a single speed, which I have not done since I was several decades younger than I am now.

First, having only one gear doesn't slow me down as much as I thought it would. Today I rode 17 miles at an average of 13.3 mph. Not Tour de France record speed, but faster than I would have expected. I think I actually come up hills faster, since there's no choice but to stand up and push ahead. On a slight up-hill stretch, I spun out to 23.4 mph. Again, not a record, but not bad for the rough equivalent of 3rd gear on a road bike.

Second, it is in fact fun to not have to worry about being in the right gear. Yes, you can ride a multi-speed and leave it in one gear, but the thought of shifting would always be in the back of the mind. What's the point of multiple ratios if you don't use them?

Riding single-speed seems to have the potential to make one a stronger rider. Hills I stood up on the first few rides no longer call for leaving the saddle.

It seems to make climbing easier if the hands are spread wide, near the very ends of the handlebars.

Maintenance promises to be simpler--no derailleurs to adjust, no gear cluster to scrub.