Odds and ends:
- I'll be taking the Flood Fighting Methods day-long course this month. I really like the idea that if I am called out for flood fighting this winter, I will have some idea what to do.
- Ali joined me for my lunch-time swim yesterday. She was a collegiate national champion swimmer. I haven't seen her sprint yet, but when she isn't trying, her cruising speed is exactly twice as fast as mine. At the end of a lap, I looked up to see that a crowd had gathered on the deck to watch her strokes and turns. I bragged about her, of course, but wish that I had a good enough eye for swimming that I could appreciate her technique as well.
- I subbed in for a friend yesterday and gave a lecture at Sac State. I'd forgotten how much I love being in front of a class. I should see if I can find a lecturing gig somewhere, because that much attention leaves me exhilarated.
- Also, I tried Ali's fixed-gear a couple nights ago. Her bike was too tall for me, but it was FUN. Now I have to find a non-poserish way to ride a fixed-gear. The kids all ride with no hands, so naturally I've started too. I can take corners with no hands now, and should admit that I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself. (The kids also ride around standing on their crossbars and handlebars, and I have no desire to copy that at all.)
I don't mean to be a tease, but I have to mention this and I don't have time to write it up. It seems kinda like leaning in close and talking in a low breathy voice while playing with your buttons, but I'm still gonna do it. Here's a promise for you, baby. After lunch, more Los Osos.
posted by Megan at 11:22 AM
8 Comments:
It seems kinda like leaning in close and talking in a low breathy voice while playing with your buttons, but I'm still gonna do it.
That's bad? Sometimes it's more fun than what comes next ...
I must be traveling at relativistic speeds for the clock has slowed down to a crawl...please post the Los Osos news!
Does this mean we can reconvene the debate on whether you should be on a fixed gear at all?
By the way, I used to ride my freewheel-equipped bike for miles in my neighborhood without touching the handlebars and without difficulty (unless a car freaked me out). Does a fixed gear actually make that any easier?
I think the debate on whether I should be on a fixed gear is over now that I've tried one and liked it. The new discussion is how I can ride a fixed-gear without revealing myself as the 34-year-old poser that I am.
I don't think I mentioned it at all on that last thread, but I have to point out my preference for "poseur" to "poser". Not that "poser" is wrong per se.
Ok, I'm done. Back to Los Osos.
Poseur is east coast, all continental and shit. Poser is west coast, and back when I was in junior high specifically meant people who pretended to be skateboarders.
I think having brakes on my fixed gear would go a long way towards making it uncool enough for me. I am also told that in this town, riding a white Bianchi pista will immediately identify me as late to the trend. If I do that intentionally, am I then being all ironic about it?
No. I think that's short of ironic. Bianchi makes good bikes though which are somewhat affordable and pretty. I haven't seen that model, but it might be popular because it's a good choice. (imagine that!)
A front brake is mandatory so that you don't kill yourself and leave behind an orphaned blog. (See your prior post on the cliff-diving dude for what we would then think of you.) If the brake makes you uncool too, so much the better. (Don't get a rear brake. It won't help.)
Oh, by the way, it's not like I know squat. That was Sheldon Brown's influence talking:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html
From looking at the Bianchi web site, the white Pista is $1400 whereas the "gang green" and chrome ones are $580. http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_track.html
So, that's a $820 irony upgrade.
I think the best way to
avoid poser-ness (thanks for setting me straight on the terminology) is to use those how-to-be-handy skills you got a few posts back and convert someone else's old bike.
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