This Machine Kills Terrorists
As folks here have probably deduced, I like to ride the bikes. I started just six years ago, and I made a ton of mistakes, so I'd like to share some of what I've found out.
Thing I found out 1: Bikes are really different from each other.
Seriously, very different. Bicycles are compact machines, and they do move toward specializing in different roles. Road bikes (thin tires, handlebars that drop down, think 10-speed Tour de France bike) are for going very fast down a pretty good road. Mountain bikes (knobby tires, straight bars, think what everyone buys at Wal-Mart) are for handling difficult terrain by giving traction and allowing the rider to absorb shocks through bent knees and elbows. Touring bikes (road bikes, but more robust) are for traveling long distances while carrying stuff. And city bikes (more on these later) are for traveling short distances comfortably while carrying items.
Thing I found out 2: If you're starting out, you should buy a city bike.
So, if you go to the store, they sell you a mountain bike.* If you go to a local bike shop, they'll sell you a mountain bike or a "hybrid" which is like a mountain bike, but has no knobs on its tires and forces you to sit in a weird half-leaning position. Neither of these are what you should buy. Here is what you should buy:
I'd like to talk about geometry for a moment. Note the high handlebars. Those make it hard to pitch over them if you stop suddenly. Note the tires with just a little padding. Those are a compromise between the desire not to spend all that energy on friction with the roadway and the need to have the capacity to handle gravel, small potholes, etc. They're pretty good. Most bikes have the crankshaft basically below the seat. This is so you can stand up easily and push the pedals hard. This bike has the crankshaft well forward of the seat. This is called (among other things) "foot-forward technology." The purpose of this is to allow you to sit on your seat and have great visibility, be able to put your feet on the ground at stoplights (very comfortable), and still be able to pedal fairly efficiently. If you've ever done leg presses, you know that the strongest part of your press is right before you reach full extension. Bike makers know this, and they try to arrange the bike so you're pedaling through this area, which is why, until recently, bikes have had tall seats which push your ass way up into the air. I have found four bike companies/models which have this geometry for a price that human beings on budgets can afford:
1) The Giant Suede
2) The Schwinn Collegiate**
3) RANS bikes (they call it crank-forward, whatever.)
4) Much of the Electra line (Townie 3 pictured above).
Thing I found out 3: You need baskets to carry your stuff.
It turns out, you can put all kinds of racks, baskets, folding baskets, bags, etc. on bicycles. This completely changes your relationship to "stuff." Instead of being a thing you have to balance or carry or slam on your back, it can be a thing you put into a basket or a bag and ride off with. This is a huge deal. If you want to do any erranding or commuting, you need to do this.
Thing I found out 4: You cannot buy a bike from Wal-Mart.
I've been involved with a local group that restores abandoned bikes. We just can't fix most of the Wal-Mart bikes we get. They're too busted up from just regular use. But! The quality and prices at your local bike shops vary tremendously. So go a few places, and if you don't feel comfortable, don't buy.
Those are some of the basics.*** I said I'd mention cruiser bikes -- they're also good for around town, but they put a bit more weight on your butt and don't let you pedal as well, so I consider them a solid second-best. Also, you're going to need lights to ride at night and fenders if the street's a little wet. But those are details. The important thing is to pick a bike that fits how you're going to ride, and to pay the (mild) premium for getting a bike that isn't made of lousy components or assembled by folks who don't have the training or time to do it right.
If anyone's curious, I'll get into the "Cruising" concept and how many gears you need if you're a commuter (3-7).
*Some of them sell you an old-style cruiser bike. We'll get back to those.
**Note that Schwinn was bought by a Chinese company recently and does not have the level of quality you might remember them having from when you are a kid.
***for further info, check out bikeforums.net and austinbikeblog.org .
--
It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
--
It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
--
It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
--
It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
--
It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
--
It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
--
It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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--For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise - B. Franklin
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)and if the terrorist is hobbled or tied down so he won't jump out of the way at the last second. Otherwise, a firearm "machine" would be much more effective.
--"I want America to know that I'm, like, totally ready to lead." -- Paris Hilton
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)his guitar had a sticker that said "This Machine Kills Fascists".
--The other day I heard that ignorance and apathy are sweeping the country. I didn't know that, but I don't really care.
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| parent )it's a fricking joke about reducing dependence on foreign oil, followed by an essay on getting started on riding bicycles. Was it too much to ask that you allow one essentially technical discussion take place without inserting politics into it? The whole gently caressing point of this diary was to be a break from all that.
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent )Do you honestly think I was being serious?
--"I want America to know that I'm, like, totally ready to lead." -- Paris Hilton
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| parent )and acknowledge the truism, but still important point, that large-scale conservation is made up of many almost infinitesimal acts by individuals: driving a bit less, using more efficient light bulbs and appliances, replacing old appliances with more efficient ones when they wear out, and of course, riding a bike instead of taking a car where reasonable. And, of course, nucular power. %^%
My opinion on cruisers vs. mountain bikes is different from yours because I can use my mountain bike on both roads and trails. But it cost more to buy and to maintain, is more tempting of a theft target, and has more things on it to break when you are far from your house.
--Even a dead midget is far from light. - Confucius
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| parent )...that I built up to go fast on Honolulu's chewed-up roads. Stuck a cruiser tire on the front and a slick on the back. Picked up some awesome bar-ends. It's a great second bike, but it's useless to buy groceries on the way home from work with. I suspect it'll go up in utility once I get around to buying a messenger bag, but it will never be half as useful as my Electra.
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent )But it's funny how well you elucidate how conservatives just don't get it with terrorism.
Forget attacking systemic factors that create terrorism, we'll just shoot lots of people and the terrorists will be gone! Never to return!
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| parent )But looking at PM's jalopy of a bike, I don't think his could kill any terrorist.
--"I want America to know that I'm, like, totally ready to lead." -- Paris Hilton
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| parent )...but it doesn't do a damned thing about terrorists. Cutting of the flow of oil money would likely result in nothing but further instability. Note that neither Afghanistan nor Pakistan has much in the way of oil money, but they remain unstable nonetheless. Not to say that bikes aren't worthwhile, but PM's title doesn't give you the good reasons.
--The ultimate result of shielding man from the effects of folly is to people the world with fools. -Herbert Spencer
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| parent )it will be sold to someone else, principally the Chinese. China seems to be developing its economy along the lines of the US post-WWII, without regard to where total dependence on fossil fuels takes you in the 21st century. Revenue reductions to the Gulf caliphates will go down but won't be cut off by any means; the simply will lose the ability to dictate US foreign policy.
Also, while stability is good in the abstract, is propping up kleptocracy like the KSA something we should be trying to achieve? They won't be able to export jihadists if the House of Saud falls, and that would only effect us as long as our economy would suffer without their oil.
--Even a dead midget is far from light. - Confucius
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| parent )Is a Chinese carrier deployed in the Persian Gulf while we sling back martinis and yell "knock yourselves out! we care about this region even less than Africa!"
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| parent ).
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent )...isn't about terrorists. But you brought it up with the WG reference/title....
--The ultimate result of shielding man from the effects of folly is to people the world with fools. -Herbert Spencer
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| parent )first let me say i am with you on the bike riding. i rode my bike to work every day 5 miles each way, in chicago, pretty much year round. every year i did it, i lowered my "won't ride below" temperature by ten degrees -- winding up at 30deg F. i loved riding, it beat the hell out of taking the train, was often faster and i always got a seat and arrived at work, and at home later, with a clear mind, ready to do things instead of depressed and ready to stare at a screen for hours on end.
also, i have lived in europe for years, and i know how bicycle riding is part of the culture there as well. so many folks in berlin ride bikes, its great. one of the good thing about europe is the widespread use of bikes has forced an awareness of bikes on the part of car drivers, so that it is inherently less dangerous there. in chicago, you take you life into your hands at times.
now, my question is: the other great bicycling cultures i have visited in asia - china and vietnam - are moving away from bicycles. where they were riding bikes, now more and more are riding scooters and even cars.
if those developing countries, who have long had a bicycle friendly culture, are moving away from bikes, what is going to make it possible for such a culture to come into being here?
by the way, as a side note i noticed anecdotally that in the last year number of bikes on the road in chicago -- and scooter for that matter -- has increased significantly due both to rising gas prices and a very poor infrastructure development in mass transit.
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)I don't want to move to a culture where we don't have cars; what I want is a culture where we have 1 car for every 1.5-2 adults, rather than 1 car for every adult.
When a car moves from "symbol that I have made enough money to buy a car" to "symbol that I can hold down a damn job," the social status associated with it changes. That's the movement you are seeing in Asia and not seeing in Europe.
I think gas prices and the tremendous health benefits can get us to a point where 10-20% of folks commute by bicycle in urban and dense suburban areas. That's plenty for the streets to become safe.
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent )however i think that better mass transit is probably going to be a better medium term answer for the majority of folks. thats the other side of the equation in eurpoe as well, which allows people there to forego the use of cars.
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| parent ).. varies a lot.
My personal story: growing up in Salzburg, the bike was my main means of getting around town. (IIRC, after taking a small test at 8 years, you're legally allowed to bike on roads. Alone. My parents had no problems letting my bike around town early on.) Salzburg is close to perfect for that. Small town, more or less flat where settled (with enough mountains in range if you really want to exercise), sufficient bike lanes and quite a number of bike-only routes.
I never even owned a moped. Let a lone a car. We lived quite close to the city center, which meant that almost everything interesting was within 15 mins of biking.
Moving to Vienna changed all this. The distances in Vienna are significantly longer. Biking from my first flat to the office would have been more than half an hour, including hills. I preferred to take the subway. Still got a bike back then, mainly for leisure and biking into the hills.
I only bought a car last year, as getting with kids to the grannies is significantly easier by car than by train.
All in all, biking that much certainly had a positive effect on my health. And not owning a car is a serious financial gain. (as I painfully learned last year)
--Dein Grundsatz war, z'erst überleg'n, / a Meinung hab'n, dahinterstehn / Niemals Gewalt, alles bereden / Aber auch ka Angst vor irgendwem -- STS
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| parent )I speak Boyrisch and limp along in standard German, but Austrian speech left me baffled. Everything south of Munich might as well have been somewhere up the mighty Congo River.
I never owned a car the whole time I was in Germany, though many other soldiers did. Kitzingen was small enough and Würzburg convenient enough that I never felt the need of one.
Still, despite all the touristic Quatsch which permeates a city like Salzburg, I believe I saw something there which remains with me to this day. It's hard to describe: let me attempt to put it in words.
Salzburg was a city long before recorded history, probably one of the oldest in all of Europe. Forget all the Mozart, the essence of Salzburg is completely unseen, much of it underground, but some of it in plain sight, were visitors to look for it. Something continues there from the dawn of civilization, and I cannot explain it further, save only to compare it to other cities out of prehistory, like Damascus. Salt is life, without salt there is no life and the salt of Salzburg was the stuff of commerce before gold.
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| parent )a friend of mine who majored in German said that when he visited Germany, people in Berlin thought he was a native, but in the southern parts of the country he could barely understand (or be understood by) anyone.
--I blame it all on the Internet
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| parent )The range of dialects are astounding.
With the advent of television and tourism it all gets leveled down a bit, but swiss german is still a throat disease and northern German dialects are completely gibberish to me.
--Dein Grundsatz war, z'erst überleg'n, / a Meinung hab'n, dahinterstehn / Niemals Gewalt, alles bereden / Aber auch ka Angst vor irgendwem -- STS
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| parent )So you were stationed close to Würzburg? I have relatives in Giebelstadt, and one of the girls even married an US soldier. Haven't heard from them for a long time, though.
I'm a bit surprised by your difficulties with the Austrian dialect: The one spoken in Franken (don't call them Bayern, even though they live in the State of Bayern), isn't that far away from what's spoken in Salzburg.
Glad you liked Salzburg. Yes, there had been very old settlements, but IMHO the flair of the town is distinctly shaped by the various medieval styles. (Baroque, Gothic, Renaissance, ...)
I get the same feeling you describe when I visit Italy.
--Dein Grundsatz war, z'erst überleg'n, / a Meinung hab'n, dahinterstehn / Niemals Gewalt, alles bereden / Aber auch ka Angst vor irgendwem -- STS
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| parent )I was thinking about your home town the other day. Beautiful place, the old town anyways. As a tourist, that's the only part I visited. You must hate The Sound of Music by now!
While trodding around the hill under the fortress, I met a Japanese teenager who was looking intently at a "Sound of Music" travel guide, searching for the EXACT spot a certain shot of the move took place. He spoke no English except the universal "hello" but he would insistently point at the picture and then sweep his arm out, indicating his problem locating the spot among the woody trails on the hill. I thought I'd try and help and we walked together for a bit and I'd ask the locals (in English) we passed if they knew the spot he was looking for. Miraculously, with our combined powers, we found it. We shook hands and parted ways. Though I hate The Sound of Music and question the sanity of what he was up to, I'm glad I was a part of it.
--Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President. - Bruce Springsteen
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| parent )Here in Salzburg we learned to respect anything which brings in tourists, i.e. walking money dispensers. Regarding Sound of Music, I have directed my share of tourists and even driven around with foreign friends. But I, as well probably 80% or the locals, have never actually seen the movie.
(And from what I know about the contents, that doesn't surprise me: it's a tale to make Americans feel good about America. The pictures from Austria are just backdrop and to us, are nothing special.)
Nice tale, thanks for sharing.
--Dein Grundsatz war, z'erst überleg'n, / a Meinung hab'n, dahinterstehn / Niemals Gewalt, alles bereden / Aber auch ka Angst vor irgendwem -- STS
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| parent )when I lived in Vermont the stories about Maria von Trapp were legendary - I never met her but she apparently had an absolutely unbelievable temper.
--I blame it all on the Internet
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| parent )I see six key "drivers"
Fuel prices
Fuel prices
Fuel prices
Urban/Suburban zoning
Bicycle infrastructure (bike lanes, showers at work, etc)
and last but not least -
Fuel prices
Also anecdotal evidence this summer suggests that bicycle commuting has increased significantly, at least locally, this summer. We'll see if that continues to be the case with fuel prices decreasing slightly from the summer peaks and winter weather on the way.
--For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise - B. Franklin
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| parent )and manouverability. Anyone who doubts it should watch this video. It shows you just how stable a bike can be with a few tweaks to the mechanics:
http://ruina.tam.cornell.edu/research/topics/bicycle_mechanics/bicycle_stability.mov
It's also pretty cool!
As for my own bike life - it started with a series of arranged marriages. I wasn't always happy but when you live under your parents roof you need to live by their rules. When I finally got out into the world I was single again. I met a really nice bike in the local big box store. We didn't have much money but we went everywhere together. We were really happy. That was 12 years ago and we're still together. We still have fun, heck we even did a triathlon together, but I guess I'm just so used to her, I mean, I'd miss her terribly if she was gone, but there's no "glamour" there any more. It's like she just stopped trying!
To my eternal shame I did start getting a little bored of the whole arrangement and last year I started looking at, you know, pictures. I just couldn't help myself. Before I knew it I was going out with friend's bikes on the weekend and one thing led to another and, well, now I have two. She's everything I ever dreamed of. Sure she can't bring me to work or go out in the rain, and I can't take my eye off her for a minute or she'll leave on someone elses arm, but I'm so happy! Any the best part? My first bike doesn't seem to mind at all.
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)Light years beyond me. But I know what you mean with regard to bicycle fancy; my son and I were at the local bike store brousing for a mountain bike for him when he spotted a Specialized road bike frame with aero forks, all made from carbon fiber. My guesstimate is that it weighed about two pounds. Price: $2650. For the frame. Only.
--Even a dead midget is far from light. - Confucius
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| parent )I saw some nice ones over at The Bike Shop on Pensacola and King, too.
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent )...that the low rider geometry in the picture would be more efficient than riding an upright bicycle. I'm looking for the most efficient ride. My main unit is a narrow tired street bike, aluminum, 90-100psi, with a removable front basket. If you're gonna ride even 5-10 miles per day for a year you need to spend at least $500 for a machine that will be relatively trouble-free. Spending twice that would yield a noticeable improvement. My back-up is a steel framed cheap dirt bike with a cheap front shock and big fat gooshy tires. It's nice to have a guest and a back-up bike. In defense of your ride, though, with a low center of gravity balance must be a snap, and fat street tires sure do smooth out the tiny little bumps. Riding very slowly and precisely must also be easier.
If I could ever find an actual Schwinn Continental Electric, listing at around $2200, I'd buy one today. However, they seem to be vaporware, and I'm guessing they're having problems with the execution of this difficult technology. (motor in the hub, lightweight 36v battery pack, microprocessor control allowing for various power assist settings) I'm probably gonna spend that kind of money buying some electric bicycle, though. Then I'd probably ditch the dirt bike. I'm looking right now at a Bionix powered hybrid bicycle as an alternative and to handle all short trips, which is most of my driving. If I get something cool, I'll post pictures.
--Me: We! -- Ali
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)Might be worth checking out the Stokemonkey alongside a longtail, such as the Yuba Mundo, the Kona Ute, or anything with an Xtracycle attached. I hear Very Good Things.
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent )Fricking roadies. ;)
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent )Ask him what logo gear he wears when he rides - that's always helped me sort them out.
I have an old but still really fast big-tubed Cannondale road bike, but feel like I have to wear my Nixon mask when riding it so mountain bike friends don't recognize and shun me.
--Even a dead midget is far from light. - Confucius
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| parent )...that only Republicans and homosexuals wear "logo gear" outside of the house.
Canonndale makes nice bikes. However every time I've bought a new bike, the price always seemed just a bit out of reach. My current street bike is a Trek. My cheapo mountain bike is a Diamondback. I own no "logo gear" for either indoor or outdoor use. Hell, I don't even wear a helmet, but I was coerced into buying one. I do wear the gloves, though. I chewed thru two pairs before I found a pair that could stand up to the abuse. Bicycle gloves are good for any ride longer than a couple of miles.
--Me: We! -- Ali
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| parent )you're not concerned about looking like a geekbox when you ride.
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)
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent )"Hey dingus! Clean up yer yard!"
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| parent )happened to me once when I was riding a mare I didn't realize was in heat.
I barely survived.
--Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit. - W. Somerset Maugham
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| parent )sometimes I wonder if you're a gelding but haven't admitted it to the community.
... btw, fantastic shot, PM. Best photo I can 'member of a member. thanks also for a nice diary.
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| parent ).
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent )I see myself hooking up my bike to yours and then napping while a recording of my voice keeps saying "Hill coming, but I'm with ya, man!"
--Even a dead midget is far from light. - Confucius
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| parent )I can tow 2 pretty easily, one in each pocket.
--It's impossible to debate if people simply hold beliefs that have no grounding in reality.
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| parent ).
--The other day I heard that ignorance and apathy are sweeping the country. I didn't know that, but I don't really care.
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| parent )And I say this both as a man with sub-awesome, yet non-abysmal balance, and as a human being on a budget.
Semi-related to your restoring abandoned bikes: My partner got her bike at a local place that restores/rebuilds bikes from frames + parts; it's not only a great place to get a reasonably priced bike (and she's thrilled with the quality of hers), but they also do a lot of basic maintenance/upkeep stuff gratis. Definitely worth checking out if there's something like this in your area, and you're one of these budget-constricted humans (so move along, lawyers, financiers).
--Brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio.
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)I hope to do some more work on the white roof or cool roof angle.
--Fence post turtles -- They don't get up there by themselves, some moron had to put 'em there.
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)