Saturday, January 31, 2009

Cargo racks!

So, the long and the short, Exegete decided to have me build a rack for the Pugsley. I may or may not have been excessive in pointing out the virtues of racks on bikes... but I think they look cool, and they do add a lot of functionality to a bike, as far as load carrying capacity goes.


Look! It stands on two legs!


Umm... what?
A little more to the left please... a little more to the left.

The last pic illustrates some of the... unique design issues associated with building a rack for a Pugsley. The whole bike is offset to the left because of the way the rims are dished, and I had to build the rack the same way in order to keep it centered over the tire. I didn't realize just how far I'd have to until I saw this, though.

Finished pictures of the rack soon!

Mileage: 4.5

Friday, January 30, 2009

Bicycle repair bicycle!

Another yesterday post, partially because by the time I got home, it was already yesterday, so I just slept on it.

So, I got news yesterday that TC's bike was sick, so after I took care of the stuff I had planned, I tossed a few tools into the panniers on Bi, and rode over to her office and fixed it. I think I am quickly becoming the "On-Call Wrench" for some of my friends. This past week at work I overhauled the drive train on one of my co-workers bikes, just doing it on my free time at work. I'll add that to the couple of random riders that I've helped fix their bikes along the trail on my after work rides. It doesn't help matters that I'm working on rigging up an attachment for my racks that would allow me to tow a bike if need be. I'm not complaining... I think it's cool, and I enjoy it.

After fixing TC's bike, Exegete and I rode off to our old high school to visit one of our teachers, who upon seeing our bikes took us to meet another teacher who's into bikes as well. They were especially impressed with Batty. Fun stuff!
Mileage: 27

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Surprise!

So I found out some new things today. 
  1. Potholes suck.
    • So I hit a pothole as I'm cruising through a parking lot.  Not a big pothole, but with the front tire on ice, bye-bye bicycle!
  2. On a related Note:  Helmets rock.
  3. At 11 degrees, water in your a Camelback hose... Yeah, that's frozen.
  4. Pugsleys rock in snow!
Mileage: 17 (catching up for missed days).

Thursday, January 22, 2009

First ride!

First day back riding in close to three months; I'm hurting. Just the simple ride to and from work is difficult again. And, of course, the saddle hurts for the first few rides.
But on the up side, I've decided the Pugsleys are not built for avoiding things. I found myself aiming for everything I could throw at Batty to see how it did. From mud to ice to curbs, not a problem.
On one particular mountain of ice, I was quite impressed by how well Batty crawled up. I got half way up and was expecting to lay on the crank and spin the back wheel. No way! Gripped fine and rolled right on up. I think I'm in love.
Mileage: 7

I Cristen Thee...

Batty!  The Pugsley is now named Batty.  It is a double pun, really.
  1. Fatty-Boom-Batty, because on the chain-stays, the Pugsley has a "Fatties Fit Fine" emblem.
  2. Batshit-fucking-loco.  This bike is awesome.  I found myself aiming for the biggest snow-berms I could find on my way to work.
Nice wet ride in.  I found a unique Pugsley thing, though.  You don't so much get a skunk-stripe, but rather an entirely new colour of pants.  My levis are brown down both legs to the knees.  Good time.  ^_^

Mileage: 3

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Pugsley!

I think I'm in love with the pugsley. o.o

Mileage: 6.5

First Ride!


Polar Bear just got back from the first Pugsley ride.  He forgot the bottom bracket tool and went to fetch it.

It's alive. It's alive!

Polar Bear is off on a test-ride on the Pugsley!
Mileage: 1

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Sedona ride

So Josh lugged my bike and I down to Sedona, where the snow has retreated for now, and we hit up some of the trails in the area, riding from one rock to another. A lot of the trails were fairly technical, which isn't really my favorite, but it was fun overall. After we hit up some fast easy trails, I got my confidence up enough to at least try rolling some of the drops, or riding up the tougher climbs. I need more practice. I only biffed it once, coming up some slickrock, I lost the rear wheel and just kind of flopped over. All in all, a fun ride I'd like to do again!







Mileage: ~15 or so.

Friday, January 16, 2009

That was chilly.

Nothing like riding a few miles to Sonic, sitting outside while we eat Sonic, and then riding a few more miles home. It was a balmy 22 degrees outside when I got home, which typically isn't too cold for me, but the fact that I was sitting down outside doing nothing but eating for however long made it much colder. It was fun though, and TC and I got several weird looks from the people in their cars.

Also, I have to say I am somewhat surprised that Exegete hasn't made a post about the final wheel having been shipped for the Pugsley. >.>

Mileage: 18

Friday, January 9, 2009

I <3 my bike

So since bells are (somewhat) required by law, I figured I should put one on Bi. But, since I can't ever do anything simple, and I don't have much space on the handlebars... I figured I'd mount the bell somewhere else, and make it ring with the rear brake lever, since it wasn't being used.

*Ring ring!*

The cable/housing stops are just temporary until I figure out something better, or they break, whichever comes first.
Mileage: none, yet.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

My rim!

Somebody stole my rim!  Luckily the doughnut fit.  I carry it in my Camelback.

Behemoth

That's a big tire!

Bike Construction / Rednek Spec.

Pictures of Rednek Spec crown race installation.