More boring bike stuff
I don’t understand what the deal with these bicycle people is. It’s like it’s become popular to try to navigate these undulating hills and streets that haven’t been paved since Sherman using only two wheels and no engine. Of course, I was doing the cool thing before cool was cool, and, as I’ve been documenting here, I’m not quite right in the head. It seems like every day I see more bicycles on the road. I’ve even had to fight (to the death) a couple of times for space on the bus bike racks. Maybe those $3/gal gas prices are finally starting to push a bit at its seemingly inelastic demand.
I’ve been riding home lately from North Springs station instead of taking the train since I figure the extra distance will do me some good. Today, while huffing and puffing through the uphill section of Peachtree Dunwoody, some dude in a minivan pulled over and flagged me down. He did not have any candy. I didn’t even realize what he wanted at first: he pulled off into a gore where the road goes from two lanes to one, I thought he was turning around, and I was a little nervous that he was going to pull out in front of me. It turned out that he just wanted to know where I got my snazzy gear. He was mostly curious about the mirror, which I think makes him the first person to ask me about it that realized that it’s a mirror. I often wonder whether or not drivers can make out the mirror when they’re behind me. A lot of people need a backwards glance (I don’t actually look backwards, but turning my head sideways seems to get the message across) in order to find the courage to pass me, so I’ve always assumed it’s essentially invisible. It does look a little odd to see someone with an extra piece of plastic hanging off their face if you’re not familiar with it, which makes me wonder how the guy was able to buy a bike and not know where the buy the various silly accessories.
Nashbar had a sale and a free shipping deal recently, so I decided to take the opportunity to buy some new tires. My tires are starting to go square and the rear one especially is full of holes. I figure I got around 1000 miles out of this pair, and I don’t know if that’s average for bike tires or a consequence of me riding skinny things just shy of racing tires. The ones I bought don’t have folding beads, so I’m a little curious how they’re going to be shipped. While I was buying things, I got what I think are the remaining tools I need to disassemble my busted Trek. Maybe I’ll get around to selling the pieces off soon. I didn’t have a way to remove the bottom bracket, and this part appears to go for about $15-30 on ebay. The tools cost about $30. Eh.
Motivated by another flat tire on Sunday, I also bought a new pair of tire levers. I’ve been using those skinny blue ones, and wow, those things suck. It takes me a few minutes of frustrated prying and stabbing to get a tire off with those, so I decided to look at what else the world of tools had in store for me. I bought a pair of wide yellow levers that have a big scoop on one end and fancy hooks on the other to lock onto the spokes. I tried them out, and they’re really impressive. I didn’t know that removing a tire could be easy.