augusta bike blog

Don't sit on your penis

2011-06-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

John Tierney is dumbfounded that more bicyclists aren't using seats that don't harm their soft vulnerable reproductive organs:

Why, if you had an easy alternative, would you take any risk with that part of the anatomy? Even if you didn’t feel any symptoms, even if you didn’t believe the researchers’ warnings, even if you thought it was perfectly healthy to feel numb during a ride — why not switch just for comfort’s sake? Why go on crushing your crotch?

Megan McArdle chimes in and points to the way other people's risky behavior makes engaging in that behavior seem okay:

We take cues about what is safe from other people; we're willing to take even substantial risks as long as other people are.

If you don't want to spring for a noseless saddle as Tierney advises, you can try some of these tips:

Sitting back on the buttocks as much as possible while riding, takes the pressure off the frontal area... Check to see that the legs are not fully extended to the bottom of the pedal stroke... The knees should be slightly bent to support more of your weight.Stand up every 10 minutes or so to encourage blood flow.

I think my biggest problem with the idea of a noseless saddle is that I spend a lot of time riding with no hands on the handlebar and I need the nose to control the bike with my legs. On the other hand, I love getting erections and want to continue to do so.

Bike Helmets

2010-09-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

This morning, after watching me zip down a steep hill near her house, a dear friend scolded me for not wearing a helmet. Then I came across this post by one of my favorite uber-nerds, Robin Hanson. There's a lot of good links and discussion about helmet skepticism.

A couple observations of my own:

Epidemiology and averages probably shouldn't guide your decision to wear a helmet. There's a good chance you are not average.
I'm a riskier rider with a helmet on, I think. Riding without a helmet makes me think more often about death and dismemberment, which is a good thing (Fela Kuti).
Rebound effects (the tendency to increase risky behavior in response to improved safety equipment) notwithstanding , my gut tells me that wearing a helmet is smarter than not wearing one.

Bicycles increase freedom. Nanny laws that mandate helmet use for adults reduce freedom, and according to the Australia study they may not even improve safety.

2010-06-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

Best craigslist ad I've seen in a while... wash my hands clean.

http://maine.craigslist.org/zip/1788230695.html

Back from the dead

2010-05-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

The annual euphoria of spring has arrived for me and I'm tearing around Augusta and Hallowell on my bike joyously, and less out of duty. I love it! I'm also playing music wherever people can tolerate it, listening to musicians almost every night of the week, and appreciating all the people who make the scene happen here.

Now, if only I can get more people on bicycles and strapping their guitars to their racks...

Bicycles and dirt music forever!

Maine BMX video. Well done.

2010-03-05T21:07:00.000-08:00

The most surprising thing to me about this is the comment thread below the video. It's different: not a lot of ignorant bullshit- just people commenting honestly and saying where they are from.

Gonna ride to Portland Soon

2010-02-27T07:09:00.000-08:00

Well, my creative juices for Augusta riding have not been flowing lately. My local riding has devolved into a sort of earnest utilitarianism. Ugh.

Well, the first step to get back on the road bike. It's HILLY here and grinding around on my onehighgear bike is fun and all... Hell, there's not even much salt on the roads anymore.

It's only sixty miles to Portland, and a slight net downhill. I'm gonna do it on the first decent weekend day I get. I think I'll smash a burrito upon arrival and then head to Space for some local music.

Who's into it!?

Cat Karma?

2010-02-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend in Portland I connected with an old friend from my guiding days, before I was desk monkey. MG has been on a lot of epic adventures all over the world- bike trips, kayaking trips, hiking trips. One time he paddled from Key West to New Orleans. He also hiked the Pyrenees and biked around Maritime Canada. This ain't no trustafarian or otherwise rich kid doing subsidized adventures either. MG is nearly famous for his spartan existence and mostly holds down odd jobs to support his lifestyle. He is still not a desk monkey, unlike me.

MG and I went for a nice tour over the bridge to South Portland for the day.

Here's a picture of MG on his weathered bike:

We stopped at a great bakery/coffee shop in SoPo called One Fifty Ate. Outside the bakery, I became confused by this poster:

Is this is a wanted poster of a generic bandit cat who is responsible for a lost cat and perhaps other victims? Or is this a poster of a lost cat named Bandit?

Good free local skiing near the Augusta Airport!

2010-02-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

Damn that rain was really a bummer because I tell you what- the skiing out near the Augusta Airport was sublime. The grooming was impeccable, and there was hardly anyone out there. There are some exciting hills and I nearly got lost in all the wooded acreage out toward Bond Brook. Here's some pics:

Local Bike Shop (LBS).

2010-01-14T16:28:00.000-08:00

I am now acquainted with my local bike shop (LBS). I brought my fixie into Auclair Cycle and Ski to finally get a rear brake setup for it. While I was there, I also had Dave install a new stem. Given that I built this fixie myself and have been doing my own repairs for the last couple of years, I was reluctant to give up control, but it was worth it. Dave did a great job and charged me a really reasonable price. After picking up my bike I went home and finally was able to take the freewheel out of my toolbox and install it on the other side of my flipflop hub. Now I can coast! and I can stop! My first ride was down to The Wharf the other night to see the best white guy reggae band I've ever seen: East Wave Radio. Here is my bike parked down in Hallowell.

Here is Auclair Cycle and Ski, glowing in the winter evening. Go check it out, meet Dave, join the Kennebec Rail Trail organization, and get your skis tuned or get your bike set up for winter riding!

Orion has a question for you.

2010-01-08T21:40:00.000-08:00

I have to tell you. Riding in the cold at night is a rush! It's winter. It's the arctic air. Its way cleaner than the air we get in the summer. The stars are bright. Orion is asking if you are on your truest path. Are you?

Single speed season

2010-01-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

Winter. The time for exhausting family get-togethers, bloody noses, flu, famine, and... storing your derailleured bike in favor of a simple, cheap, single speed bike.

I just put some new tires on my fixed gear single speed bike:

Unfortunately, the reason I had to put new tires on it is because I rode my road bike to Randolph two months ago and somebody slashed my tires while it was parked at the head of the Narrow Gauge trail. I walked it back to Augusta and took the tires off my fixie to replace the slashed ones.

Anyway, look at the fixie with the new tires! I was pumped and so were they!
I built this bike in Hartford and New Britain, CT with the help of El Presidente de China, who gave me the eighties vintage frame, and Peter Barr at Recycle Bicycle in New Britain. Recycle Bicycle is a great little nonprofit where kids can come in after school, take ownership of a bike project, and own the bike when they are done with it.

The fixie is a great winter bike. There are no derailleurs or extra drive train parts to get gummed up by road salt.

Also, you can use controlled skids to get a much better feel for road conditions than you ever could with a normal bike with a freewheel.

My first ride with the fixie this winter was Tuesday night, Dec. 22, and I headed down to Higher Grounds for Open Mic Night. For a night owl like me, there's nothing like riding a bike around at night in the winter.

Two bikes.

2009-12-21T20:48:00.001-08:00

I saw two dudes riding bikes in Augusta this week! One dude was riding out of the parking lot at Bay Wrap, with a mountain bike with fenders on it. The other dude... I can't remember where I saw him or what he looked like.

Hey, mountain bike with fenders dude: Holler at me on this blog man! I was walking so I didn't have time to come say what up when I saw you, but next time I'll be on my bike.

For the rest of my dear readers: I took my first spill on the ice a few days ago. I was riding home late at night from open mic night at Higher Grounds, and when I came upon the left hand turn for my street, there was an oncoming car. So I rolled on, conserving my momentum, intending to whip a u-eee after it went by. U-eees are difficult to execute on black ice after being at open mic night.

In any case, I rode the whole way home on black ice without even knowing it... winter riding is more forgiving than people imagine.

Ah. the early naive days of winter.

2009-12-13T20:15:00.001-08:00

On Saturday, it was not warm in Augusta. I'm not going to go so far as to call it cold because it will get colder and also because I might fancy myself stoic about the weather.

One of the rewards was seeing an icy tree full of Cedar Waxwings:

Here are some things I have relearned and been reminded of during this recent cold snap in Augusta:

You can ride any type of bike at any time of the year in regular clothes, but office pants don't cut the wind. If you are going to wear office pants try some snow pants or plastic rain pants overtop. Don't worry, you'll look cool because you're riding your bike in the winter.
Hats matter. It's funny because my warmest hat right now is a cheap cotton one. It cuts the wind better than knit wool. My eyes were watering regardless. In the snow, I just closed my eyes 90 percent of the way shut.
I have never had a fender. I just wear plastic pants if it's messy. Loosen the straps on your backpack so it hangs down over your ass and catches dirt and salt and water. Don't worry, it looks cool.

Have you ever looked at the empty storefronts in downtown Augusta? Really looked at 'em? I like the font on this one:

In which I awkwardly introduce myself.

2009-12-11T19:09:00.000-08:00

I have been gone from Maine for a while. I failed to bring talismans and spices from across the seas, but I pocketed some enthusiasm for riding in unlikely places. This is a new blog to share that enthusiasm. Make it a dialogue by commenting on a post. I want to hear from people riding their bikes around Augusta!

I haven't seen many people riding their bicycles around the streets of Augusta yet, and now that it's cold and snowy I've seen even fewer people. A few sights struck me, even before the snow fell. For example, here is the rail trail, running along a famous river used by Benedict Arnold:Then the snow fell, and things looked different:
Stay tuned for a post about riding in the snow.