515 Crew

Thom wrote:

Thom wrote:I've been riding it without cages/straps or brakes. That's dumb as fuck, but the parts I ordered haven't come in yet and I just can't wait to ride it.

I stated as much myself.

I'm sick of you dinosaurs talking shit. I tried to be friendly. This town is doomed and you assholes can't even see why.

details.

Yes, you need toe clips or straps. A few reasons: you will get power transferring to the pedals for the full rotation of the crank and you will develop proper pedaling technique, it will help you avoid the urge to lock your legs and try to coast (and thus having the bike launch you from the saddle), and it will help you stop easier so you can avoid using the brake constantly. All it takes is one instance of losing the pedals on a downhill and trying to get your feet back on while they are furiously spinning freely to understand why they are the most important safety accessory.

Also a front brake alone is sufficient for most any kind of road bike. Sheldon Brown wrote plenty on the physics behind it, so I won't repeat it here. Long story short: you have far less stopping power from the rear brake and a front brake won't launch you over the handlebars in any scenario if it is adjusted properly.

The thing is Mr. Digi, I understand the dangers. I understand how riding my bike how it is currently set up COULD get me killed. I understand that flying down a hill makes it almost impossible to stop. I understand that if there were to be a car pull out in front of me I could do nothing about it.

That's why, if you had bothered to actually read and pay attention to any of the dialog I was attempting to have, you would have seen that yes, I intend to add these features to my bike, because I am aware of the necessity of the situation. I have been riding my bike nearly every day, but not more than a few blocks to the store or to my friends house, and (VERY occasionally) downtown. These are not great distances, I take great care to avoid traffic, and pedestrians with my bike in this condition. The ONE TIME I rode near traffic was on ingersol (as previously stated) and I wasn't riding during rush hour.

Your problem isn't that I'm doing something unsafe, because I already know it, and am fixing the situation (if you had a brand new bike, and wanted to take it out on short runs, you would too, and if you say you weren't you'd be lying). You're problem is that you are an elitist hipster piece of garbage that wants to take every opportunity to look down on someone else. You are the high school kid in a misfits shirt that calls everyone else a poser for not being into punk rock for as long as he has been.

You ride fixed gear, not because you like it, but because it makes you different. And now that a year later there are 3 people on this board that didn't ride fixed that currently are getting into it, you feel threatened by that fact. You feel like you have to be better than everyone yet again. This has nothing to do with community sir, this has to do with your own inflated ego.

If you want to continue this discussion by further attempting to insult me in front of people you think I might care about, go ahead, but I wont be reading any further.

Thom wrote: You are the high school kid in a misfits shirt that calls everyone else a poser for not being into punk rock for as long as he has been.

I don't recall seeing Rob in a Misfits shirt in high school. Though, he did wear a Business shirt from time to time. Nick Smeltzer on the other hand, he was a Misfits shirt wearing mofo!

Thom wrote:The thing is Mr. Digi, I understand the dangers. I understand how riding my bike how it is currently set up COULD get me killed. I understand that flying down a hill makes it almost impossible to stop. I understand that if there were to be a car pull out in front of me I could do nothing about it.

That's why, if you had bothered to actually read and pay attention to any of the dialog I was attempting to have, you would have seen that yes, I intend to add these features to my bike, because I am aware of the necessity of the situation. I have been riding my bike nearly every day, but not more than a few blocks to the store or to my friends house, and (VERY occasionally) downtown. These are not great distances, I take great care to avoid traffic, and pedestrians with my bike in this condition. The ONE TIME I rode near traffic was on ingersol (as previously stated) and I wasn't riding during rush hour.

Your problem isn't that I'm doing something unsafe, because I already know it, and am fixing the situation (if you had a brand new bike, and wanted to take it out on short runs, you would too, and if you say you weren't you'd be lying). You're problem is that you are an elitist hipster piece of garbage that wants to take every opportunity to look down on someone else. You are the high school kid in a misfits shirt that calls everyone else a poser for not being into punk rock for as long as he has been.

You ride fixed gear, not because you like it, but because it makes you different. And now that a year later there are 3 people on this board that didn't ride fixed that currently are getting into it, you feel threatened by that fact. You feel like you have to be better than everyone yet again. This has nothing to do with community sir, this has to do with your own inflated ego.

If you want to continue this discussion by further attempting to insult me in front of people you think I might care about, go ahead, but I wont be reading any further.

you really need to get this anger thing under control. it makes you say a lot of retarded shit.

Yeeeaaah, ok. You're basically completely wrong (riding fixed gear is about the last thing anyone would do to be "different", especially in the big wide world outside of Des Moines where it is definitely "played out") and being hyper defensive which really shows who has the issue with their image, here.

I would definitely take the hypothetical unsafe bike out for a spin... On my hypothetical residential block where there isn't traffic. I have no problem with you or anyone else riding whatever kind of bike you like (especially once you have properly outfitted it). I am far from an elitist. I'm just going to call out stupid behavior because A) I'm a dick and B) by being stupid you're making a bad name for people who, whether they like it or not, are lumped into the same "bike culture" as you. At the very least, don't TELL people how stupid you're being.

Now, if you're done being butthurt and taking things personally from someone you don't know, can we talk about something else?

I want to hear more from Ed about the impossibility of commuting via single speed bicycles, myself.

I also love the irony in the fact that I was on the complete opposite end of this hypothetical "punk enough/misfits shirt" scenario for most of high school.

robdigi wrote:
I want to hear more from Ed about the impossibility of commuting via single speed bicycles, myself.

i said i didn't understand it and that it didn't seem possible to me. i even politely said that i'd like to have someone explain how it was functional. i wasn't saying it's impossible. to me, it just doesn't seem functional at all. and i think i was pretty polite. sorry to have a differing opinion on the trend you enjoy!

but as transportation, i think gears are needed. but these are just my opinions. i really hope someone can enlighten me on fixed gears. i've never understood it!!

see, i was being really fucking polite.

robdigi wrote:I also love the irony in the fact that I was on the complete opposite end of this hypothetical "punk enough/misfits shirt" scenario for most of high school.

he's not talking about you when you were in high school.

robdigi wrote:I also love the irony in the fact that I was on the complete opposite end of this hypothetical "punk enough/misfits shirt" scenario for most of high school.

you did have a devilock at one point though didnt you?

I know you were being polite! I just wanted to hear back from you rather than read more defensive bickering from Thom. I guess it's just funny to me that it's even considered challenging to ride a single speed bicycle. All of the bikes I had growing up (talking single digits, age-wise) were single speed with a coaster brake and I rode all over every day of the summer.. and adults have much more endurance, not to mention more powerful legs.

Yeah Crow, I kind of did (as much as my parents would allow).. But I was definitely on the receiving end of the punk enough/poser debate. Man, being 14 ruled! I'm glad we're able to get that feeling alive again on this board.

robdigi wrote:I know you were being polite! I just wanted to hear back from you rather than read more defensive bickering from Thom. I guess it's just funny to me that it's even considered challenging to ride a single speed bicycle. All of the bikes I had growing up (talking single digits, age-wise) were single speed with a coaster brake and I rode all over every day of the summer.. and adults have much more endurance, not to mention more powerful legs.

Yeah Crow, I kind of did (as much as my parents would allow).. But I was definitely on the receiving end of the punk enough/poser debate. Man, being 14 ruled! I'm glad we're able to get that feeling alive again on this board.

you did shed quite a bit of light on single speed / fixed bikes, but i still think i'd like to have a 10 speed road bike. i think for the biking that i do down University to and from work, i need gears.

apparently theres a lot of butthurt circulating through bike culture.

Which is weird, because cycling tends to make your taint sore rather than your butt.

I'd definitely describe my tone as "tainthurt".

Rob rules, Thom. Quit flying off the handle.

-Joe.

DINOSAURUS SEX

ilikehorses wrote:

El Rhino wrote:

joseph wrote:"a bicycle was smashed over his head,"
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... 13005/1001

"Police said John Deering, 46, was attacked in the 1100 block of 21st Street about 9:15 p.m. " Hmmm.... Drake students, perhaps?

kind of out of drake neighborhood area, just sayin. not many (if any) drake students live down that far.

Yeah, but you know who does?

i get what youre implying, mr. chaos. the negros, sir... the negros.

kylervk wrote:i get what youre implying, mr. chaos. the negros, sir... the negros.

Exactly.

Joey Chaos wrote:
Yeah, but you know who does?

jesus christ, someone give this guy a late pass.

ilikehorses wrote:

Joey Chaos wrote:
Yeah, but you know who does?

jesus christ, someone give this guy a late pass.

You were good enough to point out that this happened in the black neighborhood, as opposed to the Drake neighborhood. I just wanted to make sure everyone knew what you were getting at.

See, even you're a racist.

Joey Chaos wrote:

ilikehorses wrote:

Joey Chaos wrote:
Yeah, but you know who does?

jesus christ, someone give this guy a late pass.

You were good enough to point out that this happened in the black neighborhood, as opposed to the Drake neighborhood. I just wanted to make sure everyone knew what you were getting at.

See, even you're a racist.

it was a point from another conversation from the same time. good try.

Ed, your point on needing gears I understand. But the only terrible hills I encounter is Grand/Walnut going downtown. otherwise it's pretty flat and not tough. I don't really even have a problem powering up those hills anymore now that I'm used to it. It's not for everyone but as Nick pointed out I like feeling it in my legs.

Here is a bike my friend made, it is made out of bamboo and the joints have internal steel lugs and are wrapped in carbon fiber.
he has it on ebay if anyone wants to buy it!

Sweet looking ride. Any idea on what size/how much he wants for it?

also check this out! weekly rides.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=1 ... 9571515349

Yo Tyler, how long are these rides? I'm debating whether or not I should ride there or get a ride.

Well this Tuesday is gonna be the first one, pretty much just show up. Ride around, leave whenever you feel you have to/want to. I guess how long just depends on the person I'd say.

Sounds cool. I should be able to go.

i still like my gears. got a new bike.