tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40341613550892236582024-03-05T02:33:20.057-05:00Matt DeBlass - Bicycles, Books and BowtiesSlightly geeky thoughts on cycling, books, music and current events.Matt DeBlasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034161355089223658.post-87110691950844917682021-06-10T13:06:00.002-05:002021-06-10T13:17:01.665-05:00Bicycles and Big Riders: A Guide to Bike Shopping for Heavy Folks<p> I recently came across <a href="https://www.outsideonline.com/2424194/how-to-find-plus-sized-bike?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebookpost&fbclid=IwAR08cQbcJxZjIaszl4Pdx8_7zF2zx_JDlnOIFMpBjD50-RZf4ROgaR_4SGA">an article</a> on Outside Magazine's web on bike shopping as a plus-size rider. I was discussing it online with friends, as you do, and realized that if I'm qualified to have an opinion on anything, cycling as a heavy rider is probably it. </p><p>See, I worked as a mechanic in bike shops either full or part time for nearly 20 years before I wore my hands out and had to give it up, so I know about bikes, and I ride regularly for commuting, camping and recreation. But also, I'm a big boy. While I'm fairly active, my build is probably more suited to a defensive lineup than a peleton, and I run about 6'3" and 300 lbs. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR8a0NuL8R7mtju-T98nNc8yD3GWJXv3UguZkygXyVpXROmXJK_999bwncy4VYELVIkZjWSQ8RfQBXO3rgxezdHneHcfHMd1_ybPf9w_H6lfXHtmceIymZ1Kid2_gGIYBn06xaoryDT0/s2048/92195126-B236-47B7-88C3-E8A3EB335277.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR8a0NuL8R7mtju-T98nNc8yD3GWJXv3UguZkygXyVpXROmXJK_999bwncy4VYELVIkZjWSQ8RfQBXO3rgxezdHneHcfHMd1_ybPf9w_H6lfXHtmceIymZ1Kid2_gGIYBn06xaoryDT0/s320/92195126-B236-47B7-88C3-E8A3EB335277.heic" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They call me "The Mountain That Bikes"<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">So I have a pretty good idea of what works and doesn't for a larger-than-average rider, and thought I'd share some of what I think is and isn't important. I'll also tell you about what I ride, myself. </span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #f0f2f5; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h_S5x5NGg1rDbzgJjgp9yn-nnYbrBLf7_4uqzBpcO1FHcJaqBan_V7so_rm5yWVrL5fSqgpbON5aTs8KOXWZixBcaPMhsqDSVFQsC28leRtsPPbpHJIiCzTcmXoI0sMotSh0P-dH1yA/s2048/75BC576B-8C36-45F0-8877-1059AB02D225.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h_S5x5NGg1rDbzgJjgp9yn-nnYbrBLf7_4uqzBpcO1FHcJaqBan_V7so_rm5yWVrL5fSqgpbON5aTs8KOXWZixBcaPMhsqDSVFQsC28leRtsPPbpHJIiCzTcmXoI0sMotSh0P-dH1yA/s320/75BC576B-8C36-45F0-8877-1059AB02D225.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoiler: It's a bicycle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql" style="color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">While the bicycle world, particularly bicycle marketing, can get wrapped up in cramming as many gears as possible into the rear cassette, new bottom bracket standards, and shaving grams, our priority as heavier riders (aka "Clydesdales and Athenas" in racing terms, that being men over 220lbs and women over 165), are a bit different. I mean, maybe we still want to go fast or shred some trails, but we'd like to not break stuff too often along the way. You might have also found that the bike shop employees, who are often (but not always, to use myself as an example) are thin and stereotypically athletic individuals, may not quite know what to do with you. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">So here's a short breakdown of what I think matters. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Wheels</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Wheels are probably the most important thing to big riders, and will make the most difference. First off, if you're going to be riding on pavement, look for a bike that will fit at least 32mm wide tires, off road consider 2.5-3" wide tires (fat bikes are great, but can present extra challenges for heavier riders, including longer axles making them more vulnerable to damage, and the bigger tires suffering even more drag with your additional weight than they would for a light rider).</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Rims should be double-wall (box shaped cross section instead of just u-shaped) and have at least 32 spokes. Aluminum rims hold up better than the steel ones found on old bikes, and offer better braking, so if you're setting up a vintage road bike, plan to upgrade the wheels if you can.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql" style="color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Brakes</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Speaking of rims and brakes, disc brakes offer really good stopping power for the heavy rider. Hydraulic disc brakes work really well, but maintenance can be fiddly, so for a casual rider (or touring/commuter oriented cyclist like me, who likes field reparability) decent mechanical disc brakes work well, and often better than the cheap hydraulics on some stock builds.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">If your budget only extends to a vintage bike, consider upgrading to newer brakes if you can. The caliper brakes on old ten-speeds and vintage road bikes don't stop as well as newer dual-pivot calipers, new levers and brakes can transform a cheap old bike into a great commuting machine. Older mountain bikes often have cantilever brakes, which can stop really well if they're set up perfectly, but linear-pull "v-brakes" are easier to get more performance from (you'll also have to change out the levers to match the cable pull, or add an adapter to go from center pull cantilevers to linear pull v-brakes)</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql" style="color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Suspension</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Unless you're spending over $1500 on a serious off-road bike, avoid it, inexpensive suspension forks don't handle heavy riders well. And bikes with rear shocks tend to suck until you get past the $2000 price point.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql" style="color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Other parts</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">You probably don't need the lightest and most cutting-edge drivetrain, in fact "cutting edge" and "finicky" are usually synonyms. That being said, as long as they shifters and derailleurs work, they're fine whatever they are. You may want to make sure you have low enough gears for climbing. Two-piece cranks seem to hold up better than the old-fashioned square taper design, and I've never had any luck with older cottered cranks. Pedals are going to wear out, don't stress over which ones you get, just assume you're going to have to buy new ones periodically.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql" style="color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Saddles</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Squishier is not better. As a heavier rider, you'll probably sink through the cushioning like it's an old mattress, and as your sit bones push down, the rest of that displaced padding will push up into your softer bits. Think more "support" than "cushion" when you're shopping for a bike seat. Sometimes wider saddles, combined with meatier thighs, lead to extra chafing and ergonomic issues. Don't let some sales guy convince you to ride on something that looks like a tractor seat just because you're big, try some sportier stuff. A good rule of thumb is the more leaned over you are, the thinner the seat, so on an upright bike, a broader and more supportive platform works, but as you get into a "sportier" position, your ideal seat will get slimmer, EVEN IF you're a big rider (and most people are more comfortable riding leaned at least a bit forward, sitting bolt-upright puts your weight right on your tailbone and spine and can be less comfortable than being slightly "slouched" forward).</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Jerome K. Jerome offered this advice on bicycle seats about 100 years ago "<i><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #202122; font-size: 14px;">There may be a better land where bicycle saddles are made out of rainbow, stuffed with cloud; in this world the simplest thing is to get used to something hard.</span>"</i></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql" style="color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Frames</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Steel, aluminum, carbon, titanium, there are good frames made out of any of these. Cheap titanium (which isn't actually all that cheap) is going to be really flexy for a big rider, sometimes to the point where, if you stand up to crank up a hill, it'll bend enough that your tires rub on the frame. Cheap carbon is rare and should be looked at with suspicion. Steel frames can be great, cheap ones can be a little flexy but mid-to-higher end steel frames work great. Same with aluminum, while in theory, it has a shorter fatigue life than steel, in real world conditions a well-made aluminum alloy frame will last you for decades. Bikes designed for touring work well, as they're meant not only to be strong enough for extra weight, but to handle reliably under a heavier load. The only disadvantage is they tend to favor stability over maneuverability, which can be a drawback if you're looking for a quick and agile ride. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql" style="color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Handlebars</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Depends on the type of riding you want to do. For city and casual riding, swept back bars are fantastic, and even work well for light trail and touring use. Straight-ish bars are best for trails, as they give lots of control, but aren't especially comfortable or ergonomic. "Rams horn" road handlebars offer good ergonomics and the ability to change hand positions, which is really helpful on longer rides, the trick is to set them a lot higher than you see on racing bikes (level with your seat or higher, usually). Wider bars give more leverage and control, in general, so tend to work better for us big folk</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">So what am I riding? Well, the frame for the bike pictured up top is by Surly bikes, a Minnesota-based brand that manufactures frames in Taiwan. The model is called the Disc Trucker, which is based on their Long Haul Trucker touring bike, but with the addition of disc brakes. The wheels are Velocity "Cliffhanger" rims, which are designed for on and off road touring, laced up 32-spokes-each to Shimano XT hubs (the front one having a dynamo to power the lights, which has nothing to do with durability, but makes me happy). I built the wheels up from parts myself when I worked in a shop. <br />Tires are Schwalbe Marathon Mondial in 700x41, an all-condition heavy touring tire. I've got Surly's "Truck Stop" handlebars, which are big and wide and even have a bit of rise in the middle and a Brooks B17 saddle, and I reign in my blazing-fast speed with Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes. <br />Overall, it's a heavy-duty touring bike designed to be reliable and sturdy for commuting, camping and general riding. Is it the perfect bike for everyone? Nope, but it works well for me, and a similar setup would probably work well for a lot of folks. I built it up myself by Frankenstiening a couple other bikes together with some new parts, but a similar build-up would probably cost around $2,000 retail. <br /><br />A closer look at some of the components: </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MMFPglfT0W9ijtbjYjT38Rmyi5omm1uK3bknytIrV8fFL88RPopu2NFeFMjPTP_uxjqxep1Vb89qE29LRzA-_R1VINqBkRRB6020wuWcoy7528gVaL7ea-Ty1lcingq8mkBQFH9AtAY/s2048/FA81D0FF-6FF9-4A31-A50F-003C289E4930.heic" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MMFPglfT0W9ijtbjYjT38Rmyi5omm1uK3bknytIrV8fFL88RPopu2NFeFMjPTP_uxjqxep1Vb89qE29LRzA-_R1VINqBkRRB6020wuWcoy7528gVaL7ea-Ty1lcingq8mkBQFH9AtAY/s320/FA81D0FF-6FF9-4A31-A50F-003C289E4930.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">A mountain bike crank is sturdy and gives me low range for hauling camping gear </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9yNg2czZjO5NfZxnO4YHRkjtxGEsThTA180o0-ghyphenhyphencTKc6ZfyNOrhrkSDBpKFOMTRcVZzfNPOMICHl1cegqt6nL373e7bVSW4PXOeKeJjeiXeA8zbio_qZ7d4HHd-TuDDG811hJfEwY/s2048/AE3A30CE-0EBD-46A4-A31A-165091913761.heic" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9yNg2czZjO5NfZxnO4YHRkjtxGEsThTA180o0-ghyphenhyphencTKc6ZfyNOrhrkSDBpKFOMTRcVZzfNPOMICHl1cegqt6nL373e7bVSW4PXOeKeJjeiXeA8zbio_qZ7d4HHd-TuDDG811hJfEwY/s320/AE3A30CE-0EBD-46A4-A31A-165091913761.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Tires and rims that will take a beating and have enough air volume to avoid flats</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyO7iS-Y5r_pECVXimPJKxUgVCYnHlkiAiBx0SakHlOkUcMKJmwLYoHmcKP8GZPhuTBjKiNeKQr9jTwtSwYBGGzvjonFQ1uGU6ybEE8RMKa4wWNK37DGu-36h0G8O833MycK7Wv8gQUVo/s2048/92A0F70E-2112-4BA0-9D4B-B2871EACE699.heic" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyO7iS-Y5r_pECVXimPJKxUgVCYnHlkiAiBx0SakHlOkUcMKJmwLYoHmcKP8GZPhuTBjKiNeKQr9jTwtSwYBGGzvjonFQ1uGU6ybEE8RMKa4wWNK37DGu-36h0G8O833MycK7Wv8gQUVo/s320/92A0F70E-2112-4BA0-9D4B-B2871EACE699.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">More mountain bike parts for a wide gear range</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0G4_ghn2-xQ8wAytecVq1KTjnkqAO7D5KNPwgz82sYnYZ394_q44BydIUVlBpKqnw3buGnm1VtZmAhbXTmfpW5bHdeMXX3wS-99L_GvPMmYdDGZzCcsz1HIo8pS143bf5922bGScIQY/s2048/9B8008C9-BE62-40FB-A209-C2FDE71D486E.heic" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0G4_ghn2-xQ8wAytecVq1KTjnkqAO7D5KNPwgz82sYnYZ394_q44BydIUVlBpKqnw3buGnm1VtZmAhbXTmfpW5bHdeMXX3wS-99L_GvPMmYdDGZzCcsz1HIo8pS143bf5922bGScIQY/s320/9B8008C9-BE62-40FB-A209-C2FDE71D486E.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Mechanical disc brakes top well and are easy to adjust </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0z5A11HCmym3b1l15YJ5uz_x1nSvLdHRWyls1anEOdR1ZlYDdDbXjq6ciUzxj0G6F7qZfsHF5wdyQrlv-jIB-THWKBG6ZfFCgv_nahQMPUmK0NH8bLtQfsi2655JmcU0N6WTyim1CJsE/s2048/9B0FE362-3FDA-4D18-B965-8E68E5BE91C5.heic" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0z5A11HCmym3b1l15YJ5uz_x1nSvLdHRWyls1anEOdR1ZlYDdDbXjq6ciUzxj0G6F7qZfsHF5wdyQrlv-jIB-THWKBG6ZfFCgv_nahQMPUmK0NH8bLtQfsi2655JmcU0N6WTyim1CJsE/s320/9B0FE362-3FDA-4D18-B965-8E68E5BE91C5.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nice wide bars set just above seat level are easy on my hands and back, and provide control and leverage</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you find this helpful, and if you have specific questions, feel free to drop them in the comments, and I'll do my best to answer them. </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Matt DeBlasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034161355089223658.post-39684666032891991442020-12-30T14:02:00.003-05:002020-12-30T20:39:58.941-05:00My Year in Nonfiction - Living Through Extraordinary Times<p> It's probably no surprise to hear my nonfiction reading was a lot about how people behave in difficult circumstances. The pandemic and the partial shutdown of our economic and social lives has definitely been on my mind, as well as everyone else's. Add to that nationwide protests against police brutality, a record-breaking hurricane season and a tense election plagued by an outpouring of conspiracy nuts and it's been an... exciting year. <br /><br />I read a lot of different things, ranging from my usual genre loves of science fiction to a few how-to books for projects and hobbies, but here are a few that really stood out as particularly relevant to the mood of the year. <br /><br />Early on in the shutdown, before I had to return to in-person work I stumbled a book that really resonated with my new, involuntarily slowed-down life, <i><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/600671/how-to-do-nothing-by-jenny-odell/">How To Do Nothing: Resisting The Attention Economy</a></i> by Jenny Odell. This book was not about actually nothing at all, but rather finding healthy ways to unplug from the "always on" demands of work, social media and advertising that are constantly clamoring for our eyeballs and attention. This book got me thinking more about the things I found satisfying away from the ubiquitous screens and made me re-evaluate my relationship with both social media and work. This re-evaluation is still ongoing, but the books that followed became part of it. <br /><br />In the same vein I picked up <i><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/332360/wanderlust-by-rebecca-solnit/">Wanderlust: A History of Walking</a></i> by Rebecca Solnit and <i><a href="https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520272941/the-managed-heart">The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling </a></i>by Arlie Russel Hochschild. While these books covered very different areas, the first being more about the values of looking at the world on a pedestrian scale (as in "walking" not "boring") while the second is about how the workplace has come to place more and more demand on not only our physical and intellectual labor, but our emotional work as well, as we're increasingly expected to show particular emotions and attitudes as part of our job. Demands that are made unequally along lines of status and often gender, which can create all sorts of hidden wear and tear on our psyche. </p><p>These books helped me look at the everyday grind, what was good, what was bad, and got me thinking about how not only my place in the whole machine, but the flaws of our economic and social structures and how they might be improved with a bit more thoughtfulness. </p><p>But of course, this wasn't an ordinary year, this was the year the machine broke down. The immediate cause was, of course, the COVID-19 Pandemic, though the fact that our cultural and financial institutions were woefully unprepared to deal with a large scale disruption made everything, and continue to make everything, worse than it had to be. So I got to thinking about disasters. </p><p>Two books that really opened my eyes to a lot of the reality of what happens when a disaster hit, the first, <i><a href="https://www.amandaripley.com/the-unthinkable">The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes and Why</a></i> by Amanda Ripley talked about ordinary people reacted to extreme circumstances, and in a lot of cases how what really happens contradicts the expectations of what's going to happen created by movies and pundits. It explored more than a hundred years of disaster reporting and sociology, involving earthquakes, fires, hurricanes and revolutions. </p><p>Much to my surprise, the pop-culture images of widespread panic and looting were fairly rare in real life. If anything, some people go too far in the opposite direction, waiting passively for things to make sense again, with tragic results. But for the most part, people seem to be pretty sensible in an emergency, working together, behaving rationally and getting away as best as they can. Often they'll behave extremely altruistically and help out others. <br /><br />When panic does happen, it's often the result of predictable circumstances, where people are unable to move or act, and are packed too tightly to be able to respond with any sense of autonomy. The same seems to be true of rioting in times of civil unrest, protestors almost never spontaneously riot, it's usually the actions of police or military forces putting pressure on them that causes the situation to explode. </p><p>Looting too, seems a lot rarer than it's made out to be in disaster movies, even in actual riots and especially in life-threatening emergencies. It does happen, but it's hardly widespread. The much greater danger seems to be the vigilantes who take it upon themselves to "protect" the community from the looting they imagine is going to happen, which in practice often looks a lot like shooting anyone of a particular racial or socioeconomic group who dares show their face in certain neighborhoods (this was a big problem after Hurricane Katrina, exacerbated by police with much the same attitudes). <br /><br />Ordinary people, it seems, do OK in disasters, while authority figures tend to be the ones who actually freak out, leading to what sociologists call "elite panic," and causing unnecessarily draconian or violent responses to an emergency in the name of maintaining the social order, as opposed to helping people in need (to see this happening in slow motion, just read anything dealing with the response of the US Congress to the current situation). </p><p>Often, in fact, everyday people will work together at their local level to create temporary communities in the wake of a disaster, trying to keep each other fed and safe, which was the topic of the other Rebecca Solnit book I read this year <i><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/301070/a-paradise-built-in-hell-by-rebecca-solnit/">A Paradise Built In Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise In Disaster</a></i>. In this book, Solnit describes how some of the improvised communities built in the wake of earthquakes, hurricanes and the like allowed people to not only survive, but to thrive. Often the sense of purpose and the breaking down of routines and social strata made people happier for a short time than they may have been in their everyday lives, and these cooperative bands of neighbors were more effective in distributing relief than the official government response was (which led to more of that elite panic and sometimes interference with grass-roots relief efforts in the name of imposing top-down order once again). </p><p>It's worth noting that the current situation, where the best way to help each other is to keep our distance and stop the virus from spreading, doesn't particularly lend itself to neighborly measures like erecting spontaneous soup kitchens or street medic stations. But think about how many people have been sewing masks or donating blood, volunteering where they can. In times of crisis, the human instinct is often to do SOMETHING to help out, which is pretty great. And, honestly, not terribly surprising, in spite of what all the post-apocalyptic movies we all watched might have told us. We are, as a species, instinctively cooperative, which is probably the most important reason we've been so successful. </p><p>The final book that really tied into my theme for the year was probably the meatiest and most complicated of the bunch, <i><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/311787/behave-by-robert-m-sapolsky/">Behave: The Biology Of Humans At Our Best And Our Worst</a></i> by Robert Sapolsky. This book explored not only the way we act, but the hormonal, neurological, genetic and environmental factors that influenced all of those. I could probably (and maybe will) write a whole blog post on what I learned from this book alone, but there are a few takeaways that tie into what I read in the other books. </p><p>Probably the most important ones are that we human beings, like other primates and most other social animals in general, are very good at dividing the world into "Us vs Them." And we'll often make all sorts of excuses for Us, and blame anything we can on Them. Now who constitutes and "Us" and what terrible enemy counts as "Them" from moment to moment can be very fluid, because we're pretty complicated critters, even compared to our closest cousins in the wild. It can be along racial, political or religious lines, it can be between fans of rival football teams or even between people who like football and people who don't. And we can exist simultaneously in several Us/Them relationships at the same time. "Sure, he's a Dallas fan, but he shares my love of '70s heist movies, so he's not all bad." </p><p>The Us/Them paradigm can be manipulated, for good but more often for ill, because of something else that makes humans particularly human, our ability to think in metaphors. We literally feel sick at seeing an image of something repugnant, like we smell rotten meat, we feel joy at a particular song that reminds us of home, symbolism is so closely tied into reality in our minds that we have trouble separating them on a subconscious level. And terrible people use that to exploit the Us/Them division. "Look at these people from group X," they say, "are they even really people? They're more like cockroaches." And part of our brain stops seeing other people as human beings, and if they're not human beings, does it matter how badly we treat them? This is called pseudospeciation, and it's one of the most effective propaganda tools out there. It works well because, sometimes, the more we hate the Thems out there, the closer and more loyal we feel to Us. </p><p>And all this works because we're never as rational as we like to think we are. Probably especially people who pride themselves on being rational all the time. What we think of as rationality is often rationalization, our very clever brains looking to make excuses for our unconscious biases and things that lurk in the deep, dark currents of our psyche. We don't like to admit to ourselves that we don't trust a person because something about them reminds us of our third grade bully, or because we're a little bit prejudiced against something. Or maybe we need to eat lunch and we're just cranky, but we'd NEVER let a little thing like slightly low blood sugar affect our judgement, would we? </p><p>But in spite of all our strange, chaotic, and seemingly unpredictable irrationality, Sapolsky tells us, we're surprisingly nice to each other most of the time. There are evolutionary and personal benefits to cooperation, and studying our primate cousins teaches us that the noisiest and most aggressive are almost never the most successful, rather the ones who are really good at getting along with each other. No man, (or chimp, or baboon) it seems, is an island. <br /><br />The takeaway from all this? Well, for me, a lot of it's still percolating, but in spite of the chaos of this year, I feel a bit more optimistic about human nature, and have been really thinking about my own place and where I want to go from this kind of transitional place I find myself, career-wise. There's a lot to be said about the feeling of satisfaction in finding a way to serve the greater community, and maybe I'll figure out how to do that (and buy groceries) in the future. But I've still got a lot of reading to do, either way. </p><p>Happy New Year, folks!</p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Matt DeBlasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034161355089223658.post-38375600096857063872020-04-15T12:18:00.001-05:002020-04-16T08:42:44.240-05:00Working From Home Without Losing Your Mind: Tips and ResourcesCurrent events have forced a lot of us to do our jobs from home. For those who are used to doing at least part of their work remotely, this may be an easy transition, but a lot of use are used to the structure and social interaction of the workplace and can find this really challenging. But there are definitely things you can do to survive, or even thrive, in this new environment.<br />
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<b>Set a Schedule</b><br />
Probably the biggest, most important element is creating some structure in your day. The combination of anxiety and a sudden change in work environment can make it really hard to focus, doubly so if, like a lot of us, you've gone from a fairly active, social environment to one that involves a lot of online learning or large group videoconferences, where you might be taking a much more passive role in your work. In addition, if you're suddenly working at home with family, particularly kids, giving them definite "working/not working" time for their parent can help them feel more comfortable and know when not to interrupt you (or, more realistically, interrupt you less often).<br />
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Setting a definite start and end time for your day can also help you avoid feeling like you're constantly beholden to your workplace to be productive, even when you're doing personal or family activities. "Clock in" and "clock out", and don't forget to give yourself a break for lunch as well as short breaks to get up and move around. Some people find it helpful to "commute" to work by going outside and going for a short walk before going to work, and almost everybody finds that getting dressed in "office clothes" (even if it's just a different pair of sweatpants from the ones you slept in) helps them get in a better mindset to sit down and work.</div>
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Experiment a little bit in what time of day works best for you. You may be a morning person who gets the most done before 2 pm, or someone who likes to get started in the afternoon and work into the evening. This might be the rare chance to tailor your workday to suit your natural inclinations, within the bounds of employer expectations and web meetings. And allow yourself a bit of flexibility, life happens even - especially - when working from your own home. </div>
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Finally, when you're done for the work day, be done. Turn off your computer, or at least log out of your work email, and set aside that part of the day until tomorrow. Keeping a strict division between work and personal time at home helps you keep better peace of mind and let you feel more focused and productive during your designated work hours. </div>
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<b>Set Up Your "Office" </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If it's in the corner of my bedroom, can I brag about having a "corner office?"</td></tr>
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If you're fortunate enough to have a home office already, you're all set! But if, like many of us, you're new to this, it's really, really helpful to have a designated work spot, ideally a different spot from where you sleep, eat and watch TV, though if you've got a small living space, you may have to work with what you've got.<br />
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If you have the space and money, do what you can to make it as comfortable as possible. A high-end desk chair may not be necessary, but but one that's comfortable and puts your hands and wrists at a <a href="http://ergonomictrends.com/proper-ergonomic-typing-posture-at-computer/">good angle for typing</a> can save you a lot of aches and pains (if you have a laptop, like I do, it may be hard to get the screen at optimum level, but do what you can). Using a separate mouse, wired or otherwise, can also make entering data a lot easier and more comfortable. </div>
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<a href="https://www.thespruce.com/tips-for-better-home-office-lighting-1812436">Good lighting </a>is essential for relieving eye strain, helping with focus and mental health and making you actually visible while you're participating in one of the many, many, MANY video conferences you're going to be on during the work week. Natural sunlight is one of the best options if you can set your desk near a window, but a flexible desk lamp of some sort can help with task-specific lighting too, from viewing documents to providing a bit of indirect light to make your web-conference face look its best.<br />
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Aside from being well-lit and ergonomically sound, the decor and color of your work space can have an effect on mood and productivity as well. Live plants can help for a lot of people and even the color of your environment can have a marked effect. <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01580/full">Studies have shown </a>that shades of blue make for the best work environment, followed by green, while yellow made for the least comfortable space. You probably don't have the option to repaint an entire section of your home or apartment, but adding some posters or decorations can help a lot.<br />
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Avoid clutter in your working space, too. Not only does it make it harder to actually work if you need to sort through documents or other materials, but a cluttered environment can cause <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/high-octane-women/201203/why-mess-causes-stress-8-reasons-8-remedies">an increase in anxiety</a>, which is the last thing any of us needs these days. </div>
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It may be a luxury for a lot of people, but if you have the option or are expecting to have working from home be a long-term part of your job, having a dedicated work computer can help separate your home life from work life. Your employer may even provide you with one. But if you can't do that, you should designate the desk as your "work" space, and at the end of the day when you're done with your work hours, move your laptop to a different physical location to watch Netflix or read blogs. You can even set up a separate user account for your work self and your home self to create both a psychological and an information barrier between the two.<br />
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A final note on web conferencing: be aware of what's behind you! Try to make sure that the space behind your desk is free from excessive clutter and anything you don't want your co-workers to see. </div>
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For some more resources on setting up a home office, <a href="https://thewirecutter.com/office/home-office/">TheWireCutter</a> has great reviews and suggestions for gear at various budget levels, and <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tag/work-from-home">lifehacker</a> has an extensive collection of work-from-home articles. </div>
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<b>Breaks, Health and Distractions</b></div>
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Take breaks. No, really, take breaks. While there is a kind of cult of productivity that thinks working through lunch makes you a better employee, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alankohll/2018/05/29/new-study-shows-correlation-between-employee-engagement-and-the-long-lost-lunch-break/#50b4afd24efc">that's not true</a> during the best of times, let alone during the unusual circumstances we find ourselves in right now. You're no good to yourself, your family or your boss if you're burnt out and frazzled. When your work space and living space overlap, the temptation to just eat at your desk and keep going with what you're doing can be strong, but what you should do is get up, walk away from your computer and go eat lunch somewhere where you can't even see your desk (face the other way if you're in a small space).<br />
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A break for exercise can be a real lifesaver for a lot of people, a short jog or walk around the neighborhood can leave you feeling a lot more refreshed and focused for the second part of your day. Short breaks also help a lot too, with physical and mental health. Set a time if you have to, but try to get up every hour for just a few minutes, stand up, stretch, move around a bit, use the bathroom, get another cup of coffee, try a few <a href="https://blogs.psychcentral.com/weightless/2020/04/10-tiny-self-care-practices-to-try-today/?utm_source=Psych+Central+Weekly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=35bd6d7ce5-GEN_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c648d0eafd-35bd6d7ce5-29333297">mindfulness exercises</a> and sit back down with your mind and body clearer.<br />
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At the same time, you're probably best off limiting your social media and news consumption during work time. Not only do they tend to be distracting, but fairly anxiety-inducing right now. It's<a href="https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/trapped-the-secret-ways-social-media-is-built-to-be-addictive-and-what-you-can-do-to-fight-back/"> no big secret</a> that social media platforms use design elements to keep you scrolling and hold your attention, which can easily derail your work day for longer than you'd expected, but with a constant stream of disaster and political news, they can also ramp up your stress levels and make it hard to focus, which in turn can lead to you stressing out about struggling to focus on the task at hand. </div>
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That's not to say you should be avoiding social media or news entirely! After all, right now the primary way we have to connect with each other is through the internet, and those social connections are also vital to our health and well being, but be judicious and set planned times for it, so you can keep yourself in balance and get things done. </div>
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Overall, the resources and technology we have here in 2020 make working from home a lot easier and more comfortable for most of us than ever, and with a little planning and patience, you might even find yourself enjoying it. And really, you can't beat the commute! </div>
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</script></div>Matt DeBlasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034161355089223658.post-65379476794690543762020-04-02T10:51:00.000-05:002020-04-03T09:37:42.047-05:00Free Online Resources for Sci Fi and Fantasy Lovers<span id="docs-internal-guid-8156461d-7fff-a3f2-f8cc-1595291bde0e"></span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-8156461d-7fff-a3f2-f8cc-1595291bde0e"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If there’s any group of readers who may be truly prepared to spend weeks sequestered alone by themselves or in small groups, it’s those of use who grew up on tales of interplanetary travel. There’s not a lot of extra room on spaceships, after all, and you can’t just run out to the movies or a coffee shop when you’re halfway through your burn to the mining colony on Ganymede. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unlike our fictional heroes, though, we have a few advantages. When it’s warm enough, we can open our windows, for one, but also we have access to a pretty good range of free Speculative Fiction stories that we can access instantly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><a href="https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Libby App</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> lets you use your library card to check out ebooks and audiobooks from your library’s digital collection. The app works for both IOS and Android and can be installed on most devices pretty easily. From there, you enter your information and can see what’s currently available to check out or put on hold. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re a fan of the classics, Project Gutenberg has been creating an archive of works that have passed into the public domain. While you won't find anything recent on there, a lot of the best S</span><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=science+fiction" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cience Fiction</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and F</span><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=fantasy" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">antasy</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> novels really have held up to the test of time, and you might also enjoy the chance to see what folks a century ago got right (and wrong) about the far off days of the 21st Century. If you need some help narrowing it down, and lean towards the Sci-fi end of things, Popular Mechanics </span><a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/web/a15831/gutenberg-sci-fi-books/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">made this list</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of some of their favorites. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tor Books puts a lot of great Fantasy and Science Fiction short stories </span><a href="https://www.tor.com/category/all-fiction/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">online for free</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and also offers </span><a href="https://www.tor.com/tag/free-ebooks/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">downloadable ebooks</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that are free for a limited time, including those from some of the most popular authors in the field. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re a Kindle user, or use the Kindle app on one of your devices, Amazon has a lot of </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=free+science+fiction+and+fantasy+kindle+books&i=digital-text&crid=2SH02EVBQERKH&sprefix=free%2Cdigital-text%2C225&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_4" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">free Science Fiction and Fantasy ebooks</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> available, often from up-and-coming authors or the first book in a series, to give you a chance to try something new. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want some fresh short works, check out </span><a href="https://uncannymagazine.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Uncanny Magazine</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or </span><a href="https://vocal.media/futurism" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Futurism</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, both of which put out new Fantasy, Science Fiction and science fact stories on a regular basis. Uncanny offers a well-reviewed Speculative Fiction podcase, as well, and Futurism features editorial staff from the short-lived revival of the famed OMNI Magazine. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course, you don’t have to stick to just reading, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7sDT8jZ76VLV1u__krUutA" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dust</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, on Youtube features original short Science Fiction films. If you’re more into the history and analysis of your favorite stories, check out PBS Digital Studios’ channel </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO6nDCimkF79NZRRb8YiDcA" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Storied</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Storied comprises two series, “Monstrum,” hosted by professor of literature Emily Zarka, which explores legendary creatures from around the world, including their origins and social context, and “It’s Lit” hosted by Lindsay Ellis and Princess Weekes, which takes a look at all different genres of fiction. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Matt DeBlasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034161355089223658.post-67285890342038676412020-04-02T10:50:00.000-05:002020-04-02T11:13:05.670-05:00Educational Youtube Channels for Adults<span id="docs-internal-guid-108b0da2-7fff-b468-c753-4ec5d11e3f2a"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At this point you may feel like you’ve reached the end of Netflix or may even be (gasp) tired of watching cat videos, and be thinking that you’d like to at least feel that you were using your time at home to learn a bit more about the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fortunately, there is a vast community of creators putting educational content up on Youtube for free. The ones below are just a few of my favorites, and tend to be of pretty high quality with good research and fact checking. Most of their videos are about 10-15 minutes long and are entertaining and informal in tone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Science and Nature: </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwg6_F2hDHYrqbNSGjmar4w" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Animalogic</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: This Canadian channel is hosted by professional wildlife illustrator Danielle Dufault, and features a different creature every week. Some are cute, some are creepy, some a bit of both, but they’re all interesting. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzR-rom72PHN9Zg7RML9EbA" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PBS Eons</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Produced by PBS Digital Studios, this channel focuses on paleontology and prehistory, with a weekly deep-dive into different topics on prehistoric plants, animals and even weather </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Kurzgesagt" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: The title is from the German term for a quick summary of something complex, (hence “in a nutshell” in the English-language version), this channel presents brief but well-researched explorations of a wide range of science topics… with adorable animated birds. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ScienceBasedLife" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kyle Hill</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: The long-haired former host of the “Mythbusters: The Search” show explores interesting physics, math and engineering questions, as well as the possible science behind your favorite superhero and and sci-fi shows, with occasional cheesy jokes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(note: up till recently, Hills content was hosted on a channel called </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvG04Y09q0HExnIjdgaqcDQ" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because Science</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and his older content is still available there) </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/itsokaytobesmart" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s OK To Be Smart</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Another excellent show from PBS Digital Studios, host Joe Hanson explores a different science-related topic every week. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/destinws2" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Smarter Every Day</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: One of the longest-running educational Youtube channels, since 2007 engineer Destin Sandin has been talking about the science behind everything from farming to rocket science. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arts and Culture</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcddcRNcQfVwCMmvV2QWf8Q" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Films&Stuff</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: We all may have our favorite movie moments, but have you ever thought about how and why some scenes and some films work so well? Host Jonathan Burdett breaks down some of the nuts and bolts cinemetography used in our favorite blockbusters. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ogrx6d9oohf6D42G44j1A" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Terrible Writing Advice</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: A humorous look at how to make a well-crafted story… be exploring exactly what NOT to do. Each video is an animated look at how typical storytelling tropes can be used and misused in a book or movie. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jessethereader/featured" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesse The Reader</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: One of the most popular “Booktubers” (Youtubers who vlog (video blog) about books) Jesse talks about everything from his recent favorites to organizing your bookshelf. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/chezapoctube" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lindsay Ellis</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: An often irreverent (with some adult language) take on books, movies and theater. Ellis tends to have longer video essays around 40-60 minutes and cover everything from the evolution of the “Phantom of the Opera” through books, plays and movies to a whole lecture series on film theory using the Michael Bay “Transformers” movies as a model. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTUtqcDkzw7bisadh6AOx5w" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12tone</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: A look at how music theory applies to popular music as well as some more strange and abstract musical concepts. While 12tone does occasionally dives deep down some music theory rabbit holes, it’s mostly about breaking down things for the layman, and it features a lot of cute hand-drawn illustrations. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXkNod_JcH7PleOjwK_8rYQ" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Polyphonic</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Video essays on popular music. Each episode takes a look at a popular song and talks about how it goes together, some history of the song and its place in pop culture at the time it was released, and the music’s impact. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/metmuseum" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Met</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has both virtual tours of its galleries and videos exploring certain collections, history and restoration. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0LQM0SAx601_99m2E2NPsm62pKoSCnV5" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Curator’s Corner at the British Museum</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: The curators of the British Museum highlight some of their favorite parts of their collections, interesting facts and side projects. Highlights include using clever detective work to determine that a particular Viking was left handed, the evolution of Manga and figuring out the rules to a 3,000-year-old board game!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">History, Social Studies and General Knowledge: </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crash Course</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: This channel covers some of everything, from history to writing to film to biology. Good quality content and entertaining hosts make this a fun way to learn new things or to use a study aid for students. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TodayIFoundOut" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today I Found Out</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Strange historical events, the interesting origins of everyday words or things, and the occasional exploration of current developments. This Anglo-American channel, hosted by Simon Whistler, published a new video daily, ranging from five to twenty minutes in length, and often including some bonus trivia tangentially related to the main topic. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/CGPGrey" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CGP Grey</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Wide-ranging and only sporadically published, Grey’s videos take close looks at geography, history, science, government and urban design, or whatever else catches the host’s interest at the time. Grey (an American living in London, who appears as a bespectacled stick figure in his videos) has a background in both physics and sociology, but also a great interest in political science and random trivia. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are just a few of the channels that I like, there are loads more out there, I’m sure you’ll find some of your own favorites over time! </span></div>
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</script></div>Matt DeBlasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034161355089223658.post-37820304580044992032016-05-24T22:35:00.001-05:002016-05-24T22:35:06.951-05:00On the Glorious 25th of May: What Sir Terry Taught Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://41.media.tumblr.com/ec28e3ef2123053e1fa5008f9784b5f3/tumblr_now3zlY1ry1s194two1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/ec28e3ef2123053e1fa5008f9784b5f3/tumblr_now3zlY1ry1s194two1_500.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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May 25 is Geek Pride Day, where all of us who love Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Cosplay, Gaming and what have you are free to let our freak (geek?) flags fly, though I would kind of argue that's pretty much every day. It's also Towel Day, when we celebrate the life and works of Douglas Adams, which is a noble and worthy cause, of course.<br />
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But for another subset of geek culture, a large, but often relatively quiet fandom compared to the t-shirt-wearing, movie-quoting masses, the 25th of May is significant for another reason. It marks the date of the People's Revolution of the Glorious 25th of May, from Terry Pratchett's 2002 book, <i>Night Watch</i>.<br />
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Pratchett has long been one of my favorite authors, and Night Watch probably remains one of my favorite books from his Discworld series. It confronts some pretty grim subject matter, but still manages to maintain humor and humanity, and it closely examines a lot of our issues and assumptions about politics, revolution and human nature. It's got a bit of Les Miserables about it, a bit of English history, a bit of the '60s and a lot of Pratchett. Read it, you won't regret it.<br />
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Aside from just this book, though, the Discworld series and associated books have taught me a lot over the nearly 20 years I've been reading them, and Pratchett's death a year ago hit me pretty hard (especially as it came at a time when I was still mourning a more personal loss). But some of the lessons from his stories have become core parts of who I am. Among them:<br />
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<ul>
<li>There are many ways to sin, and many ways to be evil, but they all start with treating people as things. Once we stop seeing people as individuals and look at them as pawns in a game, as stereotypes, as means to an end, we head down the wrong path. Sometimes even if we set out with the best of intentions. </li>
<li>Darkness isn't the opposite of light, it's simply it's absence. It's up to us to be a light in dark places, and to not let indifference or complacency make us part of them. And, when all is said and done, and the odds are against you, sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than to curse the darkness. </li>
<li>Stories matter. They make up who we are and tell us why we're here. And sometimes belief and faith are extremely important, including belief in things that we may objectively know not to be real. You can't weigh justice, you can't measure out a cup of mercy but those things are important to making us human. Our belief in these things gives them a reality which, although it may only exist within the confines of our own skulls, has the power to shape the world, and lets us become what we are, the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape. </li>
<li>Personal isn't the same as important. This is a harsh truth and one that can be hard to live by. Sometimes what matters most to us isn't what matters in the grand scheme of things. </li>
<li>At the same time, the small things do matter. In a vast, uncaring universe our tiny, insignificant and brief lives are all unique and precious. And the fact that we have the ability to look up into the night sky and contemplate infinity, fully aware of how tiny we are in the face of it all, and in the next breath return to wondering what we should make for dinner is not a flaw. </li>
<li>People, even when they don't look like what you may think of as "people" are pretty much the same everywhere. For the most part they want the same things, a good meal, the company of friends, and to go about their day knowing that the world they live in is relatively sane and stable from one day to the next. People are also different from "The People," in that nobody's actually met the latter, but it's a phrase often used by those who think they know what's best for "The People" regardless of what actual people want (which is another road to Treating People As Things). </li>
<li>The most powerful magic is understanding how people think. Failing that, actual magic is pretty cool, but a big stick is often more useful. </li>
<li>Ideals and ideas are wonderful, but somebody still has to bake the bread and clean the privy (preferably not at the same time). </li>
<li>It's very tempting to divide the world into Us and Them, and to think that all of the bad things are the fault of Them. It's more comfortable to blame it all on Them, but in reality there is not Them, there's only Us. </li>
<li>Real Freedom includes the freedom to suffer the consequences of your decisions. The freedom to suceed goes hand in hand with the freedom to fail. </li>
<li>Don't give up, in order to have a last-minute change of fortune, you have to take your fortune to the last minute. </li>
<li>Making bad choices for good reasons makes it easier to make them for bad reasons later on</li>
<li>Sometimes the best answer is a more interesting question</li>
<li>Knowing how bad you can be is the best encouragement for being good. </li>
<li>Doing the right thing can mean your lose everything, but doing the wrong thing can mean you lose yourself</li>
<li>The best way to face everything, good or bad, is with curiousity, humor and compassion. </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>How do they rise up? </i></div>
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</script></div>Matt DeBlasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034161355089223658.post-82273623585000073662012-09-02T19:21:00.001-05:002012-09-02T19:21:11.183-05:00The Towpath Scorcher: my Country Road Bob
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I've owned any number of bikes over the
years, but probably my favorite has been the Van Dessel “Country
Road Bob” in its various incarnations. I got the frame used from a
local racer seven or eight years ago, and had actually had it off the
road for nearly a year, as some parts were worn out and others got
scavenged to build up my Cannondale road bike, but recently acquired
some new wheels, cranks and bars to build it up again. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVk2GSRTX6w7Rmwzjg9Mu8-mWlcwZ3xrmSSR8pXeRrWNf0YLDRentaDIt17xjrdjxFomp9saM_Sk2fGCiBHV18j1EFr4PEbl66cf5Fp93kVDpCQlVU-E7l9tfxsoof1HjC8ZqsZClz3gs/s1600/2012-08-29+14.58.37+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVk2GSRTX6w7Rmwzjg9Mu8-mWlcwZ3xrmSSR8pXeRrWNf0YLDRentaDIt17xjrdjxFomp9saM_Sk2fGCiBHV18j1EFr4PEbl66cf5Fp93kVDpCQlVU-E7l9tfxsoof1HjC8ZqsZClz3gs/s400/2012-08-29+14.58.37+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a bike for the shy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Van Dessel, for those not familiar with
the company, <a href="http://www.vandesselsports.com/">Van Dessel</a> is a small company based in Mendham, NJ that designs and
distributes some unique – and uniquely named – performance
bicycles. Most of their bicycles, such as the “Gin & Trombones”
(cyclocross), “Drag Strip Courage” (track) and “All Systems Go”
(time trial) are pretty race-oriented, but they've always had one or
two models like the now-discontinued “Country Road Bob” and it's
spiritual successor, the “Whisky Tango Foxtrot” that were a bit
weird, but extremely versatile.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Bob I have, a 2002 model, is a
singlespeed-only frame, with horizontal track-style rear drop outs
(“fork ends” for the purists), and features a moderately zippy
cyclocross geometry, carbon fork and a very distinctive look brought
about by a curved tubeset and bold green paint job. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yOKUQ6kQtve6TbTiGCpvupsO3BNyetAhcqbSyhusPHJ49ZF1UVJGBT7tkeYsBMroW_tA80v6ypkCb_hvgzKuYj9S1bmga8T4BHoVQZXx46gXPMRKfa4pFuu7NONF0ejKh0zDMIfdAd8/s1600/2012-08-29+14.59.01+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yOKUQ6kQtve6TbTiGCpvupsO3BNyetAhcqbSyhusPHJ49ZF1UVJGBT7tkeYsBMroW_tA80v6ypkCb_hvgzKuYj9S1bmga8T4BHoVQZXx46gXPMRKfa4pFuu7NONF0ejKh0zDMIfdAd8/s640/2012-08-29+14.59.01+-+Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 3-inch drop from saddle to bars makes for a nice sporty ride.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The joy of the bike, other than it's
“look at me” style, is that it's such a great go-anywhere,
do-anything machine. I've normally had it set up as a fixed gear, and
formerly had road bars on it, but would use it for everything from
commuting and sporty pavement riding to cruises down the D&R
Towpath to some light singletrack (sometimes I'd flip the wheel
around to use it as a freewheeling singlespeed for my off-road
jaunts, but more often I'd just keep it on the fixed side).
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Not long ago, I was given the gift of a
<a href="http://surlybikes.com/parts/open_bar">Surly “Open Bar” handlebar</a>, which is a nice wide steel handlebar
with about a 50-degree sweep, which is designed with singlespeed
bikes in mind. I also acquired a set of fixed/singlespeed wheels and
a few other bits and pieces, so I decided it was time to get the Bob
back together. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MEL2EDcnLifBggKFDAi3eqBbChIzdFMq-yZVWmcGtHqMCK3dRyrMsq77r1dgipFFH6MM2IVXs9WViXoCyKN11z-EE-YJ4UIF4xCaaZyR8FPLHDCm-JtssOxq4HntQlj6YrJhOHArZ4o/s1600/2012-08-29+18.20.34+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MEL2EDcnLifBggKFDAi3eqBbChIzdFMq-yZVWmcGtHqMCK3dRyrMsq77r1dgipFFH6MM2IVXs9WViXoCyKN11z-EE-YJ4UIF4xCaaZyR8FPLHDCm-JtssOxq4HntQlj6YrJhOHArZ4o/s400/2012-08-29+18.20.34+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The curved parts of the bar also make for a surprisingly comfortable secondary hand position.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the less-ideal things about the
old build, with dropped handlebars, was that it relied on centerpull
cantilever brakes, rather than mountain-bike style linear pull
brakes. The rear brake, in particular, with its long continuous cable
housing and too-low cable stop never quite had the stopping power a
big guy like me was looking for. When riding fixed this wasn't a
problem, but when the bike was set up with a freewheel, I never felt
confident in the brakes when riding at speed.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The new build uses mountain-bike style
levers and a set of Promax linear-pulls, which offer much better
stopping power.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The swept handlebars and curvy tubes
put me in mind of the path racers ridden by turn-of-the-century
“scorchers,” as aggressive cyclists were known back then, so I
decided to run with it and put on a leather saddle and cork grips. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOc472w_ykXQeFUMG7iWuK2gBwg5rfEwINPlgCjl5jn56Fad3EMmtqTjOl4J8B4HGdLuHMNTYIat-H-D3z4kC1kn-XuWveMCm-7CUvKyHL6gsMsEtseAqAR-dgJ1rnEKMXnuAdZnAFNvY/s1600/2012-08-29+08.21.32+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOc472w_ykXQeFUMG7iWuK2gBwg5rfEwINPlgCjl5jn56Fad3EMmtqTjOl4J8B4HGdLuHMNTYIat-H-D3z4kC1kn-XuWveMCm-7CUvKyHL6gsMsEtseAqAR-dgJ1rnEKMXnuAdZnAFNvY/s400/2012-08-29+08.21.32+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cork grips after a quick dunk into Bullseye Shellac</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The saddle is a <a href="http://velo-orange.com/">Velo Orange</a> “Mod 1,” which the company is selling
at a discount. I have a black version of this saddle on my road bike,
and not only do I find it extremely comfortable for long rides at
moderate effort, it has saddlebag loops which allow me to hang
traditional-style saddlebags of various sizes on the back, rather
than mounting a rack and panniers or trunk bag. For daily riding I
just use a small tool bag, but for long commutes, day trips or
touring I can add on <span id="goog_959985738"></span><a href="http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&under=type&product_id=39">my Carradice bag</a><span id="goog_959985739"></span>. I find that on bikes with
sportier geometry, not only does a Carradice-style saddlebag look
better but by putting the weight closer to rider rather than on the
wheel, the handling is less affected. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBK7IW8BXPmv6GEaYYuiUZhBQJx8LO8eMBRLC3onRLhOaZc-MYjB9u36342JEoCcsejAvHbLz3w84xJOqNTup4qfQglKHuXxN9WuI-EucOYm9tURxje40DhWx2R6QlRF3CQxX2TwyC5M/s1600/2012-09-02+12.50.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBK7IW8BXPmv6GEaYYuiUZhBQJx8LO8eMBRLC3onRLhOaZc-MYjB9u36342JEoCcsejAvHbLz3w84xJOqNTup4qfQglKHuXxN9WuI-EucOYm9tURxje40DhWx2R6QlRF3CQxX2TwyC5M/s400/2012-09-02+12.50.52.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Minnehaha saddle bag makes the perfect tool bag for day-to-day rides, a Carradice College bag works for bigger loads.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I went with a honey-brown saddle this
time, purely because I thought it looked cool, and shellacked the
grips to waterproof them and make them match the saddle better
(again, rubber grips work just as well, I just think the cork is
comfortable and looks cool). </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzNGJwTycNJGuAyOl1iE-VgrR1QXNgHFso4HEjGAnwf5Y-Ck4NB_CsvKnO5W9LeM0LeQasCEZKqcwLBXvC3YsmzKMAnNwiwVsX7Njd6kaQRU_I1oJcxgO8E_GR7KWLh1crwFbM7JJVew/s1600/2012-08-30+08.48.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzNGJwTycNJGuAyOl1iE-VgrR1QXNgHFso4HEjGAnwf5Y-Ck4NB_CsvKnO5W9LeM0LeQasCEZKqcwLBXvC3YsmzKMAnNwiwVsX7Njd6kaQRU_I1oJcxgO8E_GR7KWLh1crwFbM7JJVew/s640/2012-08-30+08.48.23.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">32mm tires roll over most stuff with no problem</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
42x17 gearing and 700x32c tires give me
just shy of a 67-inch gear ratio, which gives me an on-pavement
cruising speed comfortably in the high teens but still leaves me the
leverage to get up hills and ride light off road. Right now the
as-yet-unused freewheel side of the hub is also a 17-tooth, but I may
find a slightly larger cog to give myself a better bail-out gear.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7hMD3XHp123f8lxb3OSuOj9j_2xRj_8qP85-OnWOS6kq0VN3_30XP4Ae-Oe1_t8zvNt6M64tFozTjK1_eKAV7GjjW0agu_i8PXhdzHFCv0W3cv5HFiJ3ojQqNqnkoufp4wGx7w7iI2Q/s1600/2012-08-30+08.47.43+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7hMD3XHp123f8lxb3OSuOj9j_2xRj_8qP85-OnWOS6kq0VN3_30XP4Ae-Oe1_t8zvNt6M64tFozTjK1_eKAV7GjjW0agu_i8PXhdzHFCv0W3cv5HFiJ3ojQqNqnkoufp4wGx7w7iI2Q/s400/2012-08-30+08.47.43+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fixed on one side and a short freehub on the other, with hard-to-find 135mm hub spacing. The wheelset came from a Marin singlespeed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Since I've got good brakes and don't need to rely on back-pedaling to
help me stop anymore, I no longer feel the need to ride it with
clipless pedals, so I have a pair of big, grippy Shimano BMX pedals
to keep my sneakers from sliding off. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcjkqHq8QC6X46cr2KeeJKI9t14_F7rhbKUTtGHfbNVfiDCbB0aj1h6mE5Vlx9S9y2NY-2Zq6eW1wG7g2n7N8ZSxkXB0V7KIz3N4JMlXqIcrHn4fluMZIDLR9EaaLNK_r1VmqRlOv-ws/s1600/2012-09-02+12.50.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcjkqHq8QC6X46cr2KeeJKI9t14_F7rhbKUTtGHfbNVfiDCbB0aj1h6mE5Vlx9S9y2NY-2Zq6eW1wG7g2n7N8ZSxkXB0V7KIz3N4JMlXqIcrHn4fluMZIDLR9EaaLNK_r1VmqRlOv-ws/s400/2012-09-02+12.50.07.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truvativ cranks do the job with just fine. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I've had it on a bunch of short rides
and one 30-mile towpath jaunt, and it rides wonderfully. I intend to
do a bit of light touring with it this fall, and look forward to
seeing where my favorite bike takes me.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOay289KubGlMD9-W5cGn0EAtj7DAQ_t7spWuLkmF28YF4im2pijhGJ-p3iFwyGSxRxW0Km_2ttKitQ9czI5_tdsAiSJohLXep5ZOBOElg9aN-Gcbc8Kn1ZQHSizyvc5TWXC_m3mSC0ZE/s1600/2012-08-29+18.19.57+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOay289KubGlMD9-W5cGn0EAtj7DAQ_t7spWuLkmF28YF4im2pijhGJ-p3iFwyGSxRxW0Km_2ttKitQ9czI5_tdsAiSJohLXep5ZOBOElg9aN-Gcbc8Kn1ZQHSizyvc5TWXC_m3mSC0ZE/s400/2012-08-29+18.19.57+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where are we headed today? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
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</script></div>Matt DeBlasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034161355089223658.post-68405823485727253452012-07-03T08:58:00.001-05:002012-07-03T08:58:46.521-05:00Independence Day Musings: A Christian Nation?As we celebrate the publication of that all-important American document, The Declaration of Independence, I can't help but also think of our current political climate, and some of the language that gets thrown around by various pretenders and pundits.<br />
One phrase that always catches my attention is "a Christian Nation," as in "the United States was founded as a Christian nation, therefore, what you're doing is unAmerican."<br />
<br />
The irony of using Christianity, whose fundamental texts call for peace and tolerance, to justify bigotry has been much written of elsewhere, and I won't go into that in detail here. Instead, I'd like to think about whether or not the U.S. was indeed founded on some sort of Christian principle, and what that means to us in the 21st Century.<br />
<br />
The signers of the Declaration of Independence were, indeed, "Christian" men. While some were more traditional in their beliefs than others, all but one (Charles Carroll, a Roman Catholic) were aristocratic Anglo-Protestants. The language of the Declaration and the Constitution do contain references to God and The Creator, as was co mmon in formal documents of the day.<br />
<br />
But looking at the content of both the Declaration and the Constitution, one would be hard pressed to find any justification for favoring one religion to exclusion of all others, in fact, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights explicitly forbid the government from doing so in several places, saying there can be no religious test for serving in office, and prohibiting the government from either endorsing or supressing any particular faith.<br />
<br />
But what about intent? As I pointed out, the Framers were all Christian men, didn't they intend Christianity to dominate?<br />
<br />
Well, first off, there has been entirely too much fetishisation of the "intent of the Framers" lately. While they were bright, courageous and well-educated men, they were just as fallible as any other bunch of mere mortals. In fact, one of the smartest thing they did was to leave a flexible set of laws that could be adapted to fit the changing needs of future generations and changed to correct their own oversights.<br />
<br />
I would argue that, if anything, the United States was founded as a "pragmatic" nation more than a nation of any particular faith. And yet, there is in the Declaration a particularly Christian sentiment, included in one of the most famous sentences ever set to paper:<br />
<br />
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."<br />
<br />
Most of recorded history, and much practial observation would serve to contradict this statement. Men (in the general sense of human beings) are NOT equal, some are born wealthy, some poor, some healthy, some sick, some have far more influence over the world around them than others. Many cultures, including that of the founding fathers, felt it was perfectly acceptable to hold other human beings as property.<br />
<br />
Yet there in that one sentence, was stated the belief that in spite of all evidence to the contrary, there is something inherent to each human life that is of equal value to every other human life on the planet. That all all of us are, in some intangible way, of the same importance.<br />
<br />
In this we see reflected the Christian teaching that the poor and the powerless are just as valued as kings and princes. It's a powerful (and sadly, often ignored) concept that is at the heart of the democratic ideal.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, this sense that all of us are equal usually falls by the wayside in the practial functioning of government, but maybe it's worth reminding ourselves of it from time to time.<br />
<br />
And perhaps, more importantly, it directly contradicts the meaning of the small-minded ones who so often throw out the "Christian Nation" flag to justify their own petty prejudices. If our Founding Fathers intended this to be a nation of Christian ideals, then the foremost ideal in their mind was that we are all brothers and sisters, regardless of the superficial distinctions of faith, lifestyle and circumstances.<br />
<br />
Happy Fourth!<br />
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</script></div>Matt DeBlasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034161355089223658.post-48162263476210583182012-05-07T20:13:00.000-05:002012-05-07T20:13:15.412-05:00Things Your Bike Mechanic Wishes You KnewThis is a follow up to my last post "<a href="http://mattdeblass.blogspot.com/2012/04/talking-to-your-bike-shop.html">Talking to Your Bicycle Shop</a>," which tried to address a few of the frequent miscommunications between shop employees and customers. Today I wanted to specifically share some thoughts from that mysterious back room where all the bike-fixing magic occurs.<br />
While many shop employees do both repairs and sales, it's very common for the bike shop to be divided into two worlds: the customer service section in front, where the marginally socialized shop rats help customers select a bike or accessories, and the domain of the shop troll, who is far, far better with a derailleur adjustment than a conversation.<br />
If these mechanics had the chance to speak to you frankly, here's a few things they might say:<br />
<br />
<b>- Don't lie about what happened.</b><br />
There's actually a commonly used acronym in bike shops: JRA, which stands for "Just Riding Along," as in "I was just riding along and..." which is how far too many inquiries about repairs begin.<br />
First off, things don't get broken -and I don't mean "out of adjustment," I mean "broken-broken" - while one is just riding along. Something had to happen to bend, break or dislocate the parts that are malfunctioning. Maybe you dropped the bike, maybe it was on your car rack and you backed into the garage door, whatever, but when the mechanic looks at your noisy rear derailleur and sees it covered in gouges and scratches, he'll know it had to have banged into something.<br />
Secondly, it makes the job harder. The more information the mechanic has about what happened, the more likely they are to quickly figure out the problem.<br />
Believe it or not, your mechanic is not there to judge you, and no matter how embarrassed you might be about what happened, they've probably seen something that tops it (I once had a bike that had the tires shot out by a .22. The customer actually asked me if it was a warranty issue), just tell the shop what happened, and they will try to fix it.<br />
<br />
<b>- "Some Guy on the Internet" is not an official repair manual.</b><br />
There's a lot of good and useful information online... and there's five times as much useless nonsense. Sometimes it's hard to sift through it, especially on message boards. There's a certain type of person who gets an ego boost out of being considered an "expert" on something, who will offer their opinions and guesswork as legitimate advice. This sometimes only serves to muddy the waters, especially when the mechanic is confronted with a problem that he's familiar with, only to have a customer insist that a web site says it's a totally different problem.<br />
This is not to say that one should not use the vast stores of knowledge available online, even experienced mechanics turn to the Web for answers (<a href="http://sheldonbrown.com/">especially the information compiled by the late Sheldon Brown</a>), but one should always take things with a grain of salt. It's hard to diagnose a problem without being able to put your hands on it, and even a great mechanic can only offer an educated guess via email. <br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>-Sometimes, we really, really don't want you looking over our shoulder while we work</b><br />
And sometimes, you really, really don't want to see what we're doing. For example, the shop I work at used to sell SIDI cycling shoes, which are handmade in Italy and easily cost well upwards of $300 a pair. We also sold Speedplay pedals. A popular combination among discerning cyclists was the Speedplay Frog pedal with the SIDI Dominator mountain bike shoes. However, through a design quirk, the opening in the pedals sole was always a bit too narrow to mount the cleat that went with the Frog. The simple solution was to take a Dremel tool and remove a bit of material from the sole of the shoe. This doesn't sound like a big deal until you think about it from the perspective of someone who just dropped several hundred dollars on a handmade Italian shoe, which is now about to be attacked with a grinding wheel. We usually said "we'll get these ready for you, why don't you come back for them in a bit."<br />
Bicycle repair, sometimes involves bending, drilling, cutting or hammering on things, and when those "things" are particularly beloved, or even simply expensive, watching them receive a bit of tough love can be a bit anxiety-inducing.<br />
<br />
-It's not rocket science, but it does take a bit of skill<br />
One of my favorite things about bicycles is their simplicity, You can look at a bike, and see exactly how it goes together and how everything works. One author referred to the bicycle as the last technological advancement that could be understood by laymen.<br />
However, it does take a bit of time and energy to learn how to work on them, especially some of the more esoteric problems that arise. There's nothing wrong with doing some of your own repair work and turning to a pro for other jobs. If I cut my finger, I can put a bandage on it, but if I break my leg, I'll probably want a doctor to look at it. By the same token, you should probably know how to change a flat tire, but you don't need to know how to lace a wheel or overhaul a hub.<br />
<br />
<b>-We've got other bikes to fix</b><br />
Sometimes we get a customer who will come in on Saturday afternoon and say something like "it's really nice out and a want to ride, can you fix my bike today?" Sometimes all their bike needs is a bit of air in the tires and we can just pump them up and send them on their way, but other times it will take a bit of time. Most repairs on a bicycle take less than an hour to complete, but we can't have your bicycle back to you an hour after you drop it off.<br />
Why not? Well, in order to make enough to(barely) live on the mechanic needs to have 6-8 hours of work each day. That means several bikes in the queue. All of those customers are waiting for those bikes, and the mechanic can only fix one at a time. In order to do same-day repairs, the shop needs to have all the previous day's repairs done, and a mechanic just standing around doing nothing. Most small shops can't afford to pay a mechanic to stand around when they're not bringing in repairs, so the guy or gal's workload is usually scheduled a day or two in advance. Bigger shops can sometimes afford to pull somebody off of a project to do a "priority" job, but it means somebody else is going to have to scramble to catch up. <br />
<br />
<b>-It's OK to tip you bike mechanic</b><br />
I'm not going to say that being extra nice to the guy who fixes your ride will get you better service, or maybe encourage him to go a bit above and beyond on your next service, but I'm not going to say it won't either. Fixing bikes is a trade that takes years to learn to do well, but is pretty low-paying as far as trades go, a few bucks for lunch won't hurt any wrench-slingers pride.<br />
And beer is always welcome.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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Unfortunately, some of this is just due to a lot of shop employees being inexperienced at retail, or racers who have a hard time imagining folks doing a different kind of riding than what they're into. There's not a lot that can be done about that, but it might be helpful to understand a few things about the rest of what goes on in shops.<br />
<br />
<b>Price</b> - One of the biggest problems a lot of us face is simply affording a new bike, this applies to shop rats as much as any of our customers (maybe more so, bike shop salaries are nothing to brag about). Unfortunately the bicycles are sold on a fairly thin profit margin. As fuel prices have risen, the cost of shipping has increased as well, further cutting into profits. Local bike shops can't raise their prices too much to compensate, because they're already being undersold in many areas by large online retailers, so that means entry level bikes are often sold at just above cost.<br />
<br />
Because of this, there is very little room to haggle over price, which makes it frustrating for shop owners when customers come in with the idea that there's more wiggle room than there really is. Some businesses are based on the idea that price is negotiable, but the bicycle industry isn't.<br />
<br />
This is not to say that customers shouldn't try to get the best possible deal, though! While the margins on bicycles range from "sad" to "nearly imaginary" the markup on parts and accessories is often much better. Because of this, if one is buying a number of accessories or upgrades shops can often offer a "package deal" on all the extras. If you're a good customer who's brings repeat business and a good attitude, a good shop will bend over backwards to give you a fair price and go the extra mile on service. Like a lot of small businesses, bike shops live and die by their repeat customers, and will try to take good care of them to keep them coming back.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, like many embattled small businesspeople, bike shop owners can be stubborn, and trying to get pushy won't usually get you very far. And those razor-thin margins mean you might not have a lot of leverage. After all, when a customer says something like "I'd hate to see you lose a sale because you can't knock $50 off the price" the owner might come back with "I'm only making $45 profit on this bike, I won't lose any sleep over not selling it at a loss" (the language might be different, maybe).<br />
<br />
On a final note, there's this whole internet thing. Sometimes a bike shop just can't beat the price of a Performance or Nashbar type shop. Heck, sometimes these big online retailers sell stuff for less than we get it wholesale! Every shop employee knows you buy stuff online, sometimes, if it's something our distributors don't carry, we buy stuff online too. Don't lie about it. In fact, we'll be happy to assemble that bike you bought online, for a reasonable fee, or do other work on things that come from an internet retailer, just as we'd work on a bike from another shop. The one really, really tacky thing to do, though, is to use the time, energy and know-how of your local bike shop to help you make an online purchase.<br />
<br />
What I'm talking about here is coming in with a million questions about components, fit, materials and riding styles, getting measurements, test riding bikes and spending anywhere between a half-hour and two hours tapping the expertise of your local shop, then taking what you learned and buying your bike somewhere else.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>A Little Knowledge</b> - There's an old saying that states that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing." What this means, in the context of a bicycle shop, is that just because someone read a couple articles or asked a few questions on internet forums, sometimes they think they're armed with all they need to know to get the perfect bike, and they can somehow outsmart the shop employees.<br />
<br />
First of all, the shop employees, in a good shop anyway, aren't in competition with you. They're not trying to trick you or force something on you that doesn't suit you, they're trying to make sure you get a bike you'll enjoy so that you tell your friends how great the shop was and recommend them, and you'll come back happy and buy more stuff. Yes, they may have very strong opinions (may? will), but that doesn't mean they're trying to fool you.<br />
<br />
A good bike sale is collaborative. You might have some ideas about what you want, the shop employee will listen to that, ask some questions and make a suggestion or two, and finally, give you a couple of options that you can check out and hopefully take for at least a short test ride. Eventually, the two of you will figure out what suits you best, although the shop guy might say "you'll really love Bike A" and you say, "hmmm, I kinda prefer Bike B." That's OK, it's your bike, and you're riding it, not the shop guy, but don't dismiss his opinion. Also, pay attention to the shop's "go to" bike for your particular riding style. Often there's one model that the shop has found offers the best value and suits the broadest range of riders. They'll often stock up on these and recommend them to a lot of riders, not because that's "what they have and they're trying to push them" but because "we like these and think most people will enjoy riding them."<br />
<br />
<br />
These are just a couple of starting thoughts, but I welcome questions on other aspects of the shop experience, what do you worry about? What annoys you? What do you really want to know?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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I've tried a few times to build a "cigar box" version of this sort of thing, with mixed success. Decent instruments start around $500, and go on up from there. I can put in a bit of my own money, but as a single dad with responsibilities beyond musical performance, I can't dedicate too much of my "day job" money to this.<br />
Help out if you can, if not, I totally understand. This isn't something I need to survive, but it's something that will help me with my side job as a musician, and potentially increase my earning potential. <br />
<br />
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There are other elements to the story, of course, but the central MacGuffin is an underground brand of clothes, based on early-Twentieth-Century workwear, called Gabriel Hound. The Hounds are sturdy, functional, and posses an aesthetic appeal that transcends the ephemera of fashion, and as a result are highly sought after by those in the know. They're contrasted with the lower-quality offerings of modern fashion, which offer neither the durability or lasting appeal of the smaller brand.  </p>
<p>There are other contrasts in the book, as well, between oddball open-source smartphones and the blandly ubiquitous iPhone, as well as between a working rock band and purely manufactured pop stars</p>
<p>There have also been some recent articles about a guy who advocates extreme minimalism. He gets by quite comfortably owning only 15-20 things, including clothing (one would assume frequent laundry days). Obviously not everyone can take things to that extreme, or would even want to, but it does raise the question of how much of the clutter most of us first world types is really necessary at all and how much is useless, or worse, a burden. </p>
<p>Now, a Life Without Stuff doesn't sound like too much fun, unless you're one of those ascetic philosopher types, in which case you can get by with maybe a blanket or a ticket to someplace with lax vagrancy laws. But a life with too much stuff means at some point you end up spending a lot of your time and money simply on acquiring, maintaining and storing your stuff, so that at some point your stuff ends up owning you. This can, of course, be circumvented by being extremely wealthy and having other people take care of your stuff, but that's not always an option. </p>
<p>So somewhere between “I need some stuff” and “I'm drowning in stuff” there's a happy medium where you can say, “I've got the stuff I need.” In this case it would make sense to make sure the stuff you do is have is good stuff, quality goods that serve their purpose and will hold up to repeated use. Unfortunately, this kind of stuff is hard to find in this mass-market day and age, and even high price doesn't necessarily bring with it high durability. </p>
<p>So let's first set out some guidelines for what constitutes good stuff, and maybe in the future we'll be able to identify things that are worth hanging on to. </p>
<p>It is well made out of durable materials<br>
It performs a useful function<br>
It doesn't become quickly obsolete or out of fashion<br>
It can be modified or personalized to suit the owner's specific needs<br>
It is no more complicated than absolutely necessary </p>
<p><i>Of course, there's a certain “I know it when I see it” element to quality as well, but these guidelines should be a good start. </i></p>
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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However, NJ Transit recently <a href="http://walkbikejersey.blogspot.com/2011/08/nj-transit-bikes-on-trains-access.html">updated its policy</a> to make it pretty difficult to bring a full-size bike on a train. Bicycles are only allowed on and off at high-level platforms, which includes exactly none of the stations I frequent. Now, I'm reasonably healthy and can walk or jog two or three miles from the station to my eventual destination, but for those late-night assignments I was faced with the choice of walking 20 miles home, hiring a cab or sleeping at the (outdoor) station until the 6 a.m. train. <br />
Fortunately the rules still permit "collapsible bicycles" (and furthermore, collapsible - or folding bikes as they're more commonly called - are allowed on even during peak hours. Regular bikes are not). Unfortunately, I'm pretty much broke, and while there are some brilliantly designed folding commuter bikes out there, I can't afford a single one of them. Fortunately, I'm pretty handy at fixing up bicycles, so when the option to buy a used Raleigh Twenty came up, I jumped on it.<br />
The bike, as I recieved it, was in pretty good shape, but needed a bit of work. There were some bearing and clamp issues, and while it was pretty rideable, a compulsive tinkerer like myself couldn't leave it at "pretty good".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh224wa13Ynekh-YoA8OwA5Br15tFA7YsHVVXTdDCjRhh60osKLhconbsjuEpK9B1TnNmcjmLhT1ePCcpqM8Q7T7tegvqbT7oBCkGfWPQ_4hIEkhRpkKszOP5X06Y7nULuMB9WDKjAxZU8/s1600/1121111245a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh224wa13Ynekh-YoA8OwA5Br15tFA7YsHVVXTdDCjRhh60osKLhconbsjuEpK9B1TnNmcjmLhT1ePCcpqM8Q7T7tegvqbT7oBCkGfWPQ_4hIEkhRpkKszOP5X06Y7nULuMB9WDKjAxZU8/s320/1121111245a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Within five minutes of paying for it, I'd already customized it - I added a cupholder.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The primary concerns I had were the length of the seatpost (I'm 6'3", I needed a couple inches more to get proper pedal extension), the chromed steel rims which were heavy and provided very poor wet-weather braking, the headset which used a plastic bushing instead of top bearings and mismatched handlebars and stem.<br />
The first step was to replace the stem and bars with some mountain bike parts I had lying around<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHz1Fm91Am8slh2pvQLblVVko-AV46Yag35eHkeGr1z69jd_sUAe_dbCmDRQV3M-8-vM8aqn2MldML77C-SvXaZw3n9rvozyih-WKijo9m8DHKyZju8v2XkqKsJQvU1-sSPQWkjr_7buk/s1600/folder+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHz1Fm91Am8slh2pvQLblVVko-AV46Yag35eHkeGr1z69jd_sUAe_dbCmDRQV3M-8-vM8aqn2MldML77C-SvXaZw3n9rvozyih-WKijo9m8DHKyZju8v2XkqKsJQvU1-sSPQWkjr_7buk/s320/folder+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I also swapped the saddle for a Rido that had been given to me by my friend Neil, and swapped out the front fender (which had a broken mount) for a carbon fiber recumbent fender from my buddy Dave's parts box<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtsO8ucv02jfDjEaGM6yS_17900F9AmoBU0BQ7FzZN0kA_nSINZdcy1PeH08Y3JTiegm0trQpDHAY3zkIjqKqi6aFi5091pYP3RhqFxmgSH7uywGzqD-TkUH1cGcxtxbfJ3Qhqxt-w2Q/s1600/folder+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtsO8ucv02jfDjEaGM6yS_17900F9AmoBU0BQ7FzZN0kA_nSINZdcy1PeH08Y3JTiegm0trQpDHAY3zkIjqKqi6aFi5091pYP3RhqFxmgSH7uywGzqD-TkUH1cGcxtxbfJ3Qhqxt-w2Q/s320/folder+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You better believe I kept the cup holder though (also donated by Neil)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I found a junker kids bike with 20" rims, which I pulled off and laced to the existing hubs. The front hub of the Raleigh has an unusual spacing (91mm rather than the now-common 100mm) and the rear hub was the three-speed unit, so I obviously wanted to hang onto that. Small wheels are pretty forgiving, and since I'm strapped for cash, I re-used the old spokes. They fit pretty well, but on the rear hub I they were juuuust a bit too long.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Dremel says "no problem."</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>By this point, the bike was working pretty well. I scavenged a new top headset cup from that donor kids bike, and used the fork crown race and some spacers to create a working upper headset bearing. I was still waiting for a new seatpost, which I'd ordered through <a href="http://gardenstatebicycle.com/">Garden State Bicycle</a>, so the bike was a bit short for me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqcdYpe-0eq1KtfrpBURT5XsEX07fl0T59bcLuFiFyM1uTsAWJCp7XwoFXQkerUZ2qRMEQhlCk3hYVzWFs-PB3U8GytAppfzohu3fmCLD-uSNLS9VJkKWDePz_1JWlJyzk40PoL6htUk/s1600/folder+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqcdYpe-0eq1KtfrpBURT5XsEX07fl0T59bcLuFiFyM1uTsAWJCp7XwoFXQkerUZ2qRMEQhlCk3hYVzWFs-PB3U8GytAppfzohu3fmCLD-uSNLS9VJkKWDePz_1JWlJyzk40PoL6htUk/s320/folder+004.JPG" width="268" /></a></div>I did take it for some short rides, and even one train commute, where I could test out it's foldability<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFuGi1E91G57L7nyGShhqDxvzhk8uTDBIpqcXvWqnd0fI2aifMJSm5DjN2PQUp0UeZMNpjQfHdFmfEdBnTKEa2JqBw4qRDjOSmWrg65xJVCQSuUpb4rUMNuwHQaHjCyB0KH9bTBgrhK8/s1600/folder+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFuGi1E91G57L7nyGShhqDxvzhk8uTDBIpqcXvWqnd0fI2aifMJSm5DjN2PQUp0UeZMNpjQfHdFmfEdBnTKEa2JqBw4qRDjOSmWrg65xJVCQSuUpb4rUMNuwHQaHjCyB0KH9bTBgrhK8/s320/folder+005.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0ye-Ye1w89PoqUKfcoXR1ZFkvKy5-DO-HmB_GoatkQHURXOqUmH6NmUSoAiKseCTaxL29zKzqNHoAUMnajInH7xsY5739PMWeeTe8BfABiOJqcXBD3e7uMb6AC6KX_S_MMKBYb43epQ/s1600/1125111103a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0ye-Ye1w89PoqUKfcoXR1ZFkvKy5-DO-HmB_GoatkQHURXOqUmH6NmUSoAiKseCTaxL29zKzqNHoAUMnajInH7xsY5739PMWeeTe8BfABiOJqcXBD3e7uMb6AC6KX_S_MMKBYb43epQ/s320/1125111103a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And finally the new seatpost (400mm) came in, which, with the addition of a stem riser made for a pretty comfortable ride.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_5kZ7snfj3h1TYSHZ-XOwx_VlzcB68LkwZ7t_rX3S1wr0yQOBnEV5-YZ_huDUvsQziRiaUbgETU7_UOp0g6kwbiiIWsvZYvLIJCgzOd7z21UY87aQxLPfXV45DXArKvXM2sDruEUhko/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_5kZ7snfj3h1TYSHZ-XOwx_VlzcB68LkwZ7t_rX3S1wr0yQOBnEV5-YZ_huDUvsQziRiaUbgETU7_UOp0g6kwbiiIWsvZYvLIJCgzOd7z21UY87aQxLPfXV45DXArKvXM2sDruEUhko/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Once I got all the componentry together, I took it for a leisurely shakedown ride on the <a href="http://www.dandrcanal.com/">D&R Towpath </a>between my home in South Bound Brook and my friend's place in Highland Park, about an 8-mile total trip. I figured it would make for an interesting test of handling, because the canal path had been washed out during Hurricane Irene and is currently fairly rough and rocky. The Twenty behaved predictably, and was comfortable and stable to ride, if not as fast as my 700c-wheeled commuter bike. The folding mechanism on the Twenty is a bit different from the hinge on many modern folding bikes (Dahon etc), the frame is interrupted in the middle of the main tube by a pair of angled plates, which swivel around a thick bolt and are held in place by an L-bolt. The connection seems very strong and stiff, and, although the bike doesn't fold up nearly as compactly or as quickly as some of the modern folding bikes, it's quick enough and becomes a small enough bundle for a big guy like me to easily carry onto a train (and is, in fact, far smaller than some of the luggage I see folks carrying). Most importantly, though, from my perspective, is that because of the stiff folding joint and the slightly longer wheelbase, the bike rides more like a full-size city bike than many of the other small-wheel bikes I've tried.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK95F9j0zYITYaNP4bhh2e9DgZB6diRfiOWM5yHItFq2ZZ1kHoDKbWQjMSb_qCfy7FF7J0RF8Aerdo_mLL5ViwXmPVATZTBIKb3qhVJRrNIntUmHh2CelN_-d3QzTjjk-87rqpN2JVW6w/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK95F9j0zYITYaNP4bhh2e9DgZB6diRfiOWM5yHItFq2ZZ1kHoDKbWQjMSb_qCfy7FF7J0RF8Aerdo_mLL5ViwXmPVATZTBIKb3qhVJRrNIntUmHh2CelN_-d3QzTjjk-87rqpN2JVW6w/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Cracks of Doom" at Landing Lane Bridge in New Brunswick, I had to get off and walk the Twenty across, but I've had to walk everything except for an actual mountain bike across here. It's a good fishing spot though. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Once I was confident the bike would handle some real riding, I took it on a freelance assignement. I took the train out to cover a municipal meeting, clipped on my Niterider headlight, and rode home through about 20 miles of mostly rural back roads. It's not the perfect do-everything bike, but after spending a good hour and a half on it, I can say it's a pretty good utility bike, and with it's small size, comfortable riding position and ability to fold might turn out to be a fantastic bike for travel that involves some leisurely sightseeing or even some day tours (that don't involve major hills). I can think of some definite modifications I'd want to make in the future, including better grips (possibly with bar ends for a secondary hand position), newer tires and some general overhauling, but for a modest investment in time and money, this is a great bike.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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<br />
During the period authors like Jules Verne and H.G. Wells were looking at the possibilities inherent in the new technology of the day, while more than a century later, modern science fiction authors look back to the period and imagine how that same world of steam and gears might have evolved into an analog analogue of our digital 21st Century society.<br />
<br />
But at the same time, there was no shortage of actual adventure, as evidenced by the travel writings of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Stevens_%28cyclist%29">Thomas Stevens</a>. In 1884 Stevens, who was born in England but had been living and working in the Western United States, packed a small bag of clothes, some rain gear and a Smith & Wesson revolver and set out to ride his new bicycle around the world.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny-farthing">Columbia high-wheel bicycle</a> he was riding was the latest innovation and was a triumph of Yankee engineering. The idea of connecting the cranks to the rear wheel with a chain drive was still several years in the future, but with its 50-inch-tall front wheel and solid rubber tires it rolled much faster and more smoothly than the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velocipede#Boneshaker">boneshakers</a> that were the former pinnacle of human-powered transport.<br />
<br />
Stevens started out in California in April and traveled along railroad routes, canal towpaths, public roads and wagon trails across the country until arriving in Boston 3,000 miles and almost four months later. The American West in the 1880s was still pretty wild, and he could travel an entire day without seeing another soul, and when he DID reach a town or ranch (usually a full day's travel apart) he ran into some fairly eccentric characters. Often the ground was so uneven he found himself walking about a third of his daily miles. After crossing the plains, though, he found himself in more and more settled territory (and on better and better roads) until he hit the Big City in August.<br />
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After he become the first person to cycle across America, <i>Outing</i> magazing took notice and hired Stevens as a correspondent, and helped fund his travels from that point on in return for travel reports from abroad. He sailed to England by steamship the next spring and set out from London in April of 1885.<br />
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From London he crossed to the continent by steamer and traveled through Europe to the Middle East, wintering in Tehran and, after several misadventures false starts, set out across Asia, finally reaching Yokohama, Japan in December of 1886, having traveled more than 13,000 miles riding (and occasionally pushing) his bicycle. <br />
<br />
The distance and difficulty alone are impressive, but better still were his observations about the people he met along the way. The bicycle, which today is one of the most popular forms of transport in the world, was a novelty at the time, so he often found himself treated as a sideshow performer, constantly being asked to demonstrate how it was possible to ride this strange contraption. Many passers-by regarded it as almost magical that a machine which couldn't stand unsupported could carry a person at the same speed as a horse.<br />
<br />
It's also quite amusing to read Stevens' accounts of all the local merchants and self-appointed guides, in various countries and languages, who would try to swindle the "English Tourist" for as much money as they could get for their often dubious services - a complaint which is familiar from many modern travel writers.<br />
<br />
Stevens was threatened a few times, almost robbed a few more, and run out of town at least once in his travels, but he never had to fire his revolver at another person, and often traveled through some of the most "dangerous" territories in the world at the time as an honored guest of the locals (although, perhaps not surprisingly, he was unable to safely cross Afghanistan, which was a tragic mess even then).<br />
<br />
It's a long book, collected in two volumes, and takes quite a while to get through, but it's worth reading if you've ever dreamed of setting out under your own power, by foot, by boat or -of course - by bike and seeing just how far you could go.<br />
<br />
Around the World on a Bicycle is available in paperback from your local bookseller or<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/"> in digital form</a> from Project Gutenberg<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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<br />
Recently, though, Syfy announced it was going to end one of my favorite programs on the network, Eureka. Instead of the usual practice of simply not renewing the show after the current season ends, Syfy has announced that the coming season will be the last, and even budged for an extra episode to give the show a proper finale.<br />
<br />
This situation means the writers have the chance to bring the show to a definite conclusion, instead of just dropping out of existence with plot threads dangling in the breeze like so many other genre fiction programs have done, and I'm looking forward to it.<br />
<br />
The season that just wrapped up (on a dramatic cliffhanger, of course) has been a joy for me, and pushed all my geek buttons. For those that aren't familiar with Eureka, the show takes place in a fictional town (named Eureka) somewhere in Rural Oregon. The town, run by a large corporation with ties to the Department of Defense, is populated entirely by some of the best scientists in the world, and basically exists to give them an isolated place and plenty of resources to pursue all sorts of science-fictional research projects into technology that is often decades ahead of anything seen in the outside world. The main character, Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson) is the Sherriff of the town, whose primary purpose is to reign in some of the wilder experiments and stop them from blowing up Eureka (or a large chunk of North America, depending on just how crazy things get). The whole vibe has a certain retro feel to it, and comes across as kind of "Andy Griffith in Tommorowland."<br />
<br />
The current story arc concerns the development of a faster-than-light spacecraft, and the resources of the entire town have been channeled into a mission to Saturn's moon, Titan (especially poignant because of the state of our current space program). During the buildup to the launch, we get to hear more about some of the characters and how many of them were inspired to become scientists specifically because of their childhood dreams of seeing the stars. Unlike some of the other genre franchises out there, Eureka also takes great pains to show us how major projects like the trip to Titan are not the work of some rogue genius, but of a large group of brilliant and hard-working minds working together.<br />
<br />
I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes, and I hope the show gets the ending it deserves.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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<br />
On the other hand, if you want a light, fast road bike, have a tight budget, and are willing to accept some limitations and extra effort, especially uphill, you can build yourself a fixed-gear bicycle, with a radically simplified drivetrain. With a single gear choice and no coasting allowed, fixed gear riding can be a lot of fun, and make for a super-efficient bike under ideal conditions, but when the conditions are less ideal (ie, hills) it can be a lot more work than a geared road bike. <br />
<br />
It turns out fly fishing has a roughly analogous discipline in the Japanse style of fishing known as Tenkara. Tenkara uses a super-light, collapsible rod with no reel and no line guides. The fly line is tied directly to the tip of the rod and the length of line you tie on is the length of line you get. Like fixed-gear bikes, your equipment options are limited, but like the bike, you can still get where you're going and have a surprising amount of fun doing it.<br />
<br />
I came across Tenkara while looking for an inexpense, lightweight fishing setup to bring with me on bicycle rides, and the stripped-down approach turned out to be just the thing I was looking for. The rods themselves are long, usually between 11 and 13 feet, but collapse down to about 20 inches long. The line is about the same length as the rod, to which is added a few feet of tippet (thinner line, which is all-but-invisible in the water) and a simple fly pattern of string and feather tied to a hook, which doesn't usually resemble any specific prey animal, but has a generally "buggy" look and motion underwater. It's cast just like a western fly line, with the long, flexible rod and heavier line being used to propel the tiny fly towards the target area. The fly is designed to sink under the water's surface, and is twitched up and down to attract the fish's attention. <br />
<br />
See, the funny thing about me is, in spite of the fact that I fix bicycles for a living, and build my own musical instruments, and generally like to tinker, I'm not really a "Gear Guy." When I'm off on a ride, or on stage, or at the riverside, I really have no interest in fiddling around with my equipment. I don't want to adjust things, or swap out parts, or retune or whatever. If the choice is between "bring more complicated gear" and "work a bit harder," I'll generally opt for the slightly more challenging work. So the Tenkara approach, with its simple rod, short reach and traditional choice of only one or two fly patterns seemed to suit me well.<br />
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Does it catch fish? Yes it does. I've had more luck in my local water with the Tenkara rod and some hand-tied flies than I've had in several years fishing with a spinning rod and store-bought lures. I can't cast as far as I could with a more conventional setup, but I find myself being able to fish with more precision than with other gear. Most importantly, it's fun. I can grab my rod and a tiny bagful of gear (some flies, a line, extra tipped, a tool to cut line and forceps for unhooking fish) and go with no fuss and no preparation. Because the rod itself collapses so small, it can travel in a backpack or messenger bag just in case I happen to have time to kill while I'm out and about, making me more likely to explore new fishing spots.<br />
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So far, however, there is one major difference between Tenkara and fixed-gear cycling: you don't see urban fishermen trying to do it in skinny jeans.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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<br />
Picnic time! We have some fairly nice local parks, and I picked one that was about a six-mile bike ride away via an old canal path. I loaded up some lightweight picnic gear on my bike, had my daughter strap our cameras to her front basket, and off we went. We met a friend of mine at the park and a nice lunch and a good time taking pictures of flowers and wildlife was had by all. And at the end of the ride, the kid was worn out and quiet for nearly a whole half hour afterwards.<br />
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The logistics of picnicking by bicycle are pretty simple. In our case, I was carrying lunch for three people, and we had (at kid speed) about an hour to travel in 85-degree temps.<br />
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Because of the heat and humidity, I didn't want to carry picnic gear in a backpack or messenger bag, so I resorted to my old standby, my <a href="http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&under=type&product_id=39">Carradice College saddlebag</a>. I loaded the gear inside and used a pair of toe straps to fasten the picnic blanket across the outside. It all worked pretty well, although it did sway a bit too much on the bumpier parts of the road. (I'm hoping to replace my current ad-hoc saddlebag mount in a paycheck or two, with the <a href="http://www.carradice.co.uk/products/other/sqrclamp">SQR mounting system</a>, which will not only provide a more rigid support but also get the bag mounted a bit higher where it won't bump the back of my legs while pedaling).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmHJVCSVfVtoZHoN5c18SjKKjJehOwkk1326FgHDTnWn6gZPuhHlERep8Y-SzdeZjyNgn8Uu-AZcElLMNPWg4i2F0awnBoWhNooVSNmNtW7PjE2qvGHWuLUAOvf37dwArvyS1rpUt7y0/s1600/Bike-a-nic+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmHJVCSVfVtoZHoN5c18SjKKjJehOwkk1326FgHDTnWn6gZPuhHlERep8Y-SzdeZjyNgn8Uu-AZcElLMNPWg4i2F0awnBoWhNooVSNmNtW7PjE2qvGHWuLUAOvf37dwArvyS1rpUt7y0/s320/Bike-a-nic+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
Inside the saddlebag I had three camping mugs, a pair of aluminum plates, a <a href="http://cascadedesigns.com/platypus/water-bottles/platy-bottle/product">Platypus collapsible bottle</a> half-full of homemade iced-tea and my trusty <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SCUO04/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000UGYWTO&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=02CZ5W7WM3J8QRKPV7EM">Opinel No.8</a> knife (best cheese-slicer ever). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7YAE0qDfXL5SQQZNEycoEmFXCAUhFQftvOA3pyT2Jc169dCmmpQQsCJPGTvD3u10_F66AtduXo7gIsNKryfy5gFtVngOqyJAvaN_HU-jXodgFs_yOwycVAbyLqtRVEDePbBWjVGZQ18/s1600/Bike-a-nic+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7YAE0qDfXL5SQQZNEycoEmFXCAUhFQftvOA3pyT2Jc169dCmmpQQsCJPGTvD3u10_F66AtduXo7gIsNKryfy5gFtVngOqyJAvaN_HU-jXodgFs_yOwycVAbyLqtRVEDePbBWjVGZQ18/s320/Bike-a-nic+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In light of the heat and humidity, I opted for sturdy foods. No meat that might spoil or greens that might wilt. I stopped by the local market and grabbed a block of cheddar cheese, some apples, some plum tomatoes and a few small loaves of fresh bread. Service was simple: spread the blanket, slice the cheese, tomatoes and apples into the plates and eat. A coupe of clean bandannas served as napkins and were packed in with the used cups to prevent drips from getting all over the saddlebag on the way home.<br />
<br />
If the weather was cooler, I might have opted for some lunchmeat, and packed my little propane stove and some teabags for a hot brew-up, but overall it's hard to go wrong with a cheese and tomato sandwich.<br />
<br />
Planning your own bike-a-nic is pretty simple, pretty much all you need is some sturdy place settings (those aluminum mess kits they sell in the camping section of almost any sporting goods or department store are perfect) and a way to carry it. You can use a traditional saddlebag like I do, panniers, a front basket, backpack or whatever suits you, just make sure it's comfortable and washable (in case of leaks).<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Retro-Smug Utili-Grouch:</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The RSUG has been there, done that and bought the moisture-wicking, hidden-pocket 3/4-zip t-shirt. He's probably in the bike industry, or has worked in a shop in the past, raced a little and now, as he says, “just rides his bike.” His personal bicycle (or bicycles, he never only owns one) is often built of a mix of ancient parts salvaged from old ten-speeds and high tech modern components. He will make a point of nonchalantly stating that he just rides “for the sake of riding, and to get around” and “doesn't worry about things like weight,” yet when he thinks nobody is looking he'll compare eight different front baskets to find the lightest, most aerodynamic one to put on his commuter bike. He usually has a closet full of expensive cycling clothing, yet is most often seen riding around in cargo shorts and flip-flops. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Quote: <i>“Proper nutrition is important after a long ride, which is why I've brought pizza AND beer.”</i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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<br />
Every cycling blog, forum and chat room, as well as just about any news article even vaguely related to cycling will draw out these folks <i>en masse</i>, each one of them ready to offer their take on the One True Way to enjoy the use of their two-wheeled conveyance. <br />
<br />
While it's impossible to keep up with the subcultures and fads that are rising and falling every moment on the internet, I've tried to compile a list of some of the most notable sorts. It's also worth noting that there are many hybrid cyclists, who show traits of one or more of these breeds. Please note that, while I've listed these various species using male pronouns for the sake of brevity (English being lacking in gender-neutral words to describe humans) each type has its female variant as well. <br />
<br />
<b>The Weight Weenie:</b><br />
Rides a road racing bike, although the chance that he or she actually races is only 50/50. Will spend hours poring over spec sheets to find the way to shave two paper-clips'-worth of weight off their bike. Will dismissively refer to other forum members' 20lbs bikes as "tanks" and sneer at the idea of carrying anything so bulky as a lock or multitool. Usually buys parts online and upgrades compulsively. <br />
Quote: "<i>Well, it's an OK bike, but with a 32-ounce wheelset you might as well be dragging a coffee table behind you."</i> <br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>The Bicycle Creationist:</b><br />
To the Creationist, bicycle technology began and end at some fixed date in the past, usually somewhere around 1970. Since then, everything about cycling has deteriorated, including frame materials, shifting quality and even the clothes riders wear. What modern riders might consider "dangerous flaws" in some older equipment, the Bicycle Creationist refers to as "endearing quirks." Hates clipless pedals and integrated brake-shifters with a passion and considers Rivendell Bicycles to be a bit "newfangled"<br />
Quote:<i> "Well, it's true that those stems did snap off and cause fatal crashes on a couple occasions, but you have to admit they were a lot better looking and had much more SOUL than these modern gadgets." </i><br />
<br />
<b>The Dutchie:</b><br />
The Dutchie is a hardcore transportation cyclist who believe that "proper" cycling can only take place on upright city bicycles whilst wearing street clothes. Will constantly talk up how much better bicycle culture is in European cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, and sneer at people who ride their mountain bikes to work. Will often spend upwards of $1,000 to import the European equivalent of a Schwinn Varsity.<br />
Quote: <i>"Yes, it takes me and two friends to lift my bicycle over a curb, but in in Denmark they have 43 miles of dedicated bicycle paths leading to each picnic table, so I would never have to go over a curb to get to a public park."</i><br />
<br />
<b>Safety Man:</b><br />
It's a dangerous world out there, and Safety Man is prepared for the worst. He never gets on a bike without a helmet, hi-visibility vest, gloves, protective eyewear, at least four taillights, a 300-lumen headlight, a backup headlight, pepper spray, a safety whistle, non-slip footwear, raingear (with reflective strips) a safety flag and six forms of ID. To Safety Man, "reasonable safety precautions" involve getting ready for "Mad Max" road scenarios.<br />
Quote: <i>"You can quote all the statistics you want, but if you're not wearing a reflectorized helmet with an emergency locator beacon, you're nothing more than an organ donor in training."</i><br />
<br />
<b>Anti-Helmet Guy:</b><br />
Anti-Helmet Guy does not like to wear a bicycle helmet when riding. He really,<i> really</i> does not like to wear a helmet. However, instead of simply saying "I don't think my activity is risky enough to warrant protective headgear," Anti-Helmet Guy will, at the drop of a (non-protective) hat reel off a list of statistics, factoids and anecdotal stories that will tell you under certain circumstances, when the moon is right and the wind from the Southwest if you land just so and are moving at a particular velocity in relation to a particular type of blacktop at a certain temperature a helmet just might result in slightly worse fatal injuries than the fatal injuries you would have incurred while not wearing a helmet in the same circumstances, therefore no one should ever wear a bicycle helmet. <br />
Quote: <i>"Antarctica has no mandatory helmet laws, yet in 2009 there were no fatal cycling-related head injuries reported on the </i>entire continent<i>, see how forcing people to wear helmets puts them at risk?"</i><br />
<br />
<b>The Gaspipe Ironman:</b><br />
The Gaspipe Ironman is the polar opposite of the Weight Weenie. He not only isn't worried about how heavy his bike is, he's proud of it. His greatest cycling-related joy is to describe how many lycra-clad road racers he's passed on tough climbs while riding a $79 girls' cruiser with a rusty chain he bought from the local department store 3 years ago. If the Gaspipe Ironman is to be believed, on a bike that actually fit him and had working gears, he'd have won last year's Tour de France by four hours. Fortunately for the cycling world, he has a 75 lbs Roadmaster to hold him off from a Championship Jersey monopoly.<br />
Quote: <i>"The local professional road racing team has learned to fear the squeaking of my unlubricated chain."</i><br />
<br />
The Poller:<br />
This cyclist won't buy so much as an inner tube without logging on to a cycling forum to ask if a particular brand is any good. Every day he'll post a question on some trivial bike-related matter, often prefaced by "the guy at my local shop told me I should do this, but..." The input of a dozen anonymous voices on the Internet are of more value to the Poller than any individual he could actually meet face-to-face. If the Poller's query is not answered on a cycling forum within 15 minutes, he will quickly reply to his own discussion thread with "hello?" or "does ANYBODY know anything about this?" The Poller is often most easily satisfied by running a Google search of his question and copy/pasting the results.<br />
Quote:<i> "bump!"</i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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<br />
When the cities flood, the dead rise or the aliens invade, the current social order is overturned, or so the PA novel would have us believe, and the meek don't just inherit, bur step up to kick some ass.<br />
<br />
In the case of <a href="http://www.miragrant.com/">Mira Grant's zombie-apocalypse novel, Feed</a>, the particular underdog heroes are bloggers, who in her not-too-distant future setting were the first to spread the word about the sudden outbreak of undead (as is becoming the typical nowadays, zombies are the result of a genetically engineered, highly contagious virus). The government and traditional media outlets let everyone down, and people were only saved by the power of social networking.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6001QEg86Gm59VFOZI3D5puf43i3bgdMrHEwcFz4msC1OviXgWiLU8cym-cjh2p4NcoSyxFpybP1rztgMsiml9UpQZ9XWSOV1JICNq6RPB0T5RzCriZzT_Arxw7UReZcle9uqsjsKcM/s1600/zombiesign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6001QEg86Gm59VFOZI3D5puf43i3bgdMrHEwcFz4msC1OviXgWiLU8cym-cjh2p4NcoSyxFpybP1rztgMsiml9UpQZ9XWSOV1JICNq6RPB0T5RzCriZzT_Arxw7UReZcle9uqsjsKcM/s320/zombiesign.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and by the power of the Department of Highway Safety</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The scenario took a bit of Suspension of Disbelief on my part, for a couple reasons. First off, I tend to see Facebook updates notifying me of the Zombie Apocalypse about six times a week, and I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't actually take one seriously until one of my former in-laws was trying to gnaw my arm off. Secondly, while I am fairly sure that there are high levels of incompetence and stupidity spread throughout many of our government institutions, groups like the US Military and the Centers for Disease Control to tend to employ many very competent people.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKATlxinCZyY577Zr_1qREBGScLNFd_nPq4ajqn8JPLj6IsjTsi-dvT5L3-4z6DyEOX_YXEtLBbJA1hNENBUg34dj5mZmtSHKzldjOK1GGhqfXb3m6dVuxbpa4DRq3bQoxxigoVGTSpU/s1600/cdccard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKATlxinCZyY577Zr_1qREBGScLNFd_nPq4ajqn8JPLj6IsjTsi-dvT5L3-4z6DyEOX_YXEtLBbJA1hNENBUg34dj5mZmtSHKzldjOK1GGhqfXb3m6dVuxbpa4DRq3bQoxxigoVGTSpU/s1600/cdccard.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.cracked.com/article_18683_7-scientific-reasons-zombie-outbreak-would-fail-quickly_p4.html">Cracked</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I was quickly able to put my left-brain objections side and get on with enjoying the book though. As in many zombie stories, the zombies themselves were more of a background element. The horror of seeing a former loved one converted into a bloodthirsty monster is always disturbing (as anyone who has ever gone through a divorce can attest to) but enough repetition can rob even the most gruesome villains of their ability to shock. Instead, the new and dangerous world provides our stalwart newsies with the chance to be both political muckrackers and hardened war correspondents.<br />
<br />
It's a tough thing to combine Post-Apocalyptic action with an exploration of the value of journalistic integrity, and <i>Feed</i> suffers from some awkward plot jumps and flat characters, but it's still a lot of fun, and I found myself sucked in and genuinely caring about the leads. Grant also manages to be very effective in evoking not just how scary contagious zombification would be, but also how sad. She especially uses the time between infection and conversion to wring the pathos out of the situation of someone who knows they're about to die.<br />
<br />
All in all, if you're a fan of zombie fiction, post-apocalyptic fiction, or the idea of the plucky reporter proving that sunlight really is the best disinfectant (well, and bullets, lots and lots of bullets), you'll probably enjoy <i>Feed</i> as a fun summer read.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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<br />
What it WOULDN'T be is an attempt to emulate some sort of "extreme" dowhill racing bike, with crappy suspension or poorly-designed disc brakes. Much of the investment in the typical big-box bike goes to making it look cool, as opposed to being reliable.<br />
<br />
The big obstacle would be in creating a cheap bike that's meant as Basic Transportation, rather than being meant as a toy. Part of the reason that Big Box bikes are so unnecessarily flashy is that they're built as toys rather than useful objects. <br />
<br />
<br />
These bikes could be sold through bike shops or online. Preferably at a local bike shop, which would be able to easily maintain and upgrade a no-frills machine. If I were to design such a thing, here's where I would start:<br />
<br />
Frame- Welded, straight-guage Hi-ten steel, in a fairly upright geometry. I'd keep sizing simple and one-size-fits-many. A smaller bike with 26-inch wheels in a men's and ladies' frame, and a larger bike with 700c wheels in a men's and ladies' frame. It'd have stamped semi-horizontal dropouts like an old cheap ten-speed, and eyelet holes in the dropout for mounting racks and fenders. No need for threaded eyelets, which would add money to tap, aftermarket accessories can be attached with nuts and bolts. American bottom bracket for one-piece cranks. <br />
Fork- Rigid hi-ten with non-threaded eyelet holes for fenders. 1" threaded steer tube. <br />
Wheels- aluminum single-wall rims, 36-spoke with bolt on hubs. 7[speed freewheel rear<br />
Tires- generic semi-slick in 26" or 700c<br />
Handlebars- straight mountain-style bars attached to a long threaded stem for maximum adjustability<br />
Seat- Generic, moderate foam padding over a plastic shell. Use a straight seatpost (long as possible for max height adjustment) with a separate clamp to save costs<br />
Brakes - this is a toss-up. I was going to say stamped sidepull calipers, because they're cheap yet can be made to work, but it seems like linear-pull brakes ("v-brakes") are becoming generic and cheap enough to be cost-effective, and offer better wet-weather stopping power even in their low-end forms<br />
Drivetrain - Single 42-tooth front chainring, 7-speed rear with gripshift<br />
<br />
<br />
A few bike companies offer an upscale version of this, but usually an aluminum frame, cartridge bottom-bracket, suspension seatpost and a few other frills make them more expensive. If this bike were made with the same production quality as the average big-box Huffy, it would be useable and way cheaper. It'd weigh a ton, and you might never love it, but you'd get to work on time. <br />
<br />
Cheap, reliable transportation can mean the difference between a job and no job for a lot of folks, and with stagnant wages and rising fuel costs, the personal car is starting to become an unaffordable luxury to even the lower middle class. In coming years, the humble bicycle will be the most effective and democratic way of getting around for more and more of the population, and a decent cheap bike should be within anyone's reach.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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I had one fellow corner me at a bike rack outside of a Target and subject me to a lengthy lecture about how much he paid for his bike, what the actual retail price was, what the price of the bike was the model year before and after, and what the cost of the other bikes he was considering buying at the time. Then he, of course, asked me how much my bike cost. "Um... I'm not really sure," I mumbled, "I got it on closeout, but swapped a lot of parts and stuff around." This didn't really satisfy him, so I eventually just said, "five-hundred dollars," which elicited a knowing nod and a "not bad" from him.<br />
I didn't quite get it, but it seems to be a common thing. I mentioned it to my boss at the bike shop, and he said last time he and his wife were grabbing coffee after a Sunday ride, the same thing happened (the woman who approached them bragging that she had a "ten thousand dollar bike," which was only off in his estimation by about $9,000).<br />
I'm really not sure how much my bike, as I'm riding it, cost. I know how much the MSRP was, and how much I paid for it when I bought it, but I swapped out a lot of parts, added some things, used some old parts I had lying around, got some stuff from a friend... you get the idea. I could probably tally it all up, but I don't actually care.<br />
I guess it's another case of folks wanting to use their transportation as status symbols. After all, if you're driving an Escalade, everyone <i>knows</i> you spent a certain amount on it, but if you're riding around on a mountain bike, there's the very real danger that people might not realize that it cost you lots of money!<br />
Yeah, it's kind of stupid. I figure even the most expensive add-ons to my bike, like the high-powered headlight for night commutes cost less than a tankful of gas for my old truck, and everything I've done to it serves a purpose.<br />
A more interesting thing to me, in terms of cost/use/etc is to look at what I've worn out since I started using a bike as my main transport almost four months ago. I estimate I've got between 1,500 and 2,000 miles on the bike now (a cyclocomputer doesn't count as a necessity, so my "broke commuter" logic says I can't afford one), and have worn out, lost or broken the following:<br />
<br />
A pair of pedals<br />
Two sets of grips<br />
Three inner tubes<br />
Two sets of brake pads<br />
One chain<br />
One kickstand<br />
Two water bottles<br />
One bell<br />
Two taillights<br />
One headlight<br />
One spoke<br />
<br />
This is more interesting to me than what the bike cost, or what it weighs (another meaningless question that comes up a lot, the answer is "depends on what's in the saddlebag"), because it's both a tally of the real operating cost of the bike, and a mark of how much use (and care, I fix stuff when it's worn out or broken more diligently than I ever have on a car) my current vehicle gets.<br />
<br />
What's it mean? I don't know. It means I'm riding my bike, I guess that's all.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Matt DeBlasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666227904684289223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034161355089223658.post-869973009049361752011-06-03T16:57:00.000-05:002011-06-03T16:57:45.451-05:00The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear... Goggles? The Steampunk motif in science fiction has been with us for quite a while, and lately has caught on as an aesthetic subculture full of cool DIY projects and modifications. But as real-world technology is evolving towards greater energy efficiency and more impressive design standards, we end up with things like <a href="http://gigaom.com/cleantech/switch-shows-off-liquid-cooled-led-bulb/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=earth2tech">this awesome-looking light bulb</a> or <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/hyperbike_hype.php">high-speed, human powered vehicles</a> that look like something designed by on overcaffeinated da Vinci.<br />
As manufacturing technology also improves, we're also learning to build better products out of sustainable materials, such as wood and bamboo, and to reuse metals, which are not only more eco-friendly, but are often more pleasing to the eye than their plastic counterparts.<br />
Rising fuel prices are not only spurring a minor boom in bicycling and train transportation but mean engineers are looking at new versions of old technologies, such as the Holy Grail of retrofuturism, <a href="http://www.grist.org/list/2011-05-09-airships-may-be-the-key-to-a-greener-steampunkier-future">airships!</a><br />
Of course, there are negative possibilities too, and we may all be wearing goggles because we've completely toasted the atmosphere and our eyeballs are being fried by UV rays, and societal collapse might set us back a century or two technologically, leaving us at a 19th Century level. The growth in income disparity could also create a rigid caste system in the (theoretically) socially mobile Euro-American world.<br />
But it's a lot more fun to imagine how we could reach a cool looking future by moving <i>forward</i> rather than how we might fall backwards.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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Why is this? In part, excessive and largely irrelevant information just provides an additional distraction, and often gets ignored and partially because overly strict distinctions rob drivers of the ability and motivation to courteously interact with other road users, or each other.<br />
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In the particular case of crosswalks, drivers are basically being told that they can ignore pedestrians except at certain places on the road, which in turn usually gets them in the habit of ignoring pedestrians entirely. This isn't a lack of courtesy, it's just that when drivers are not in the habit of looking for people on foot, they might miss them even when they are waiting in a crosswalk.<br />
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As a result, it becomes inconvenient and dangerous to walk around downtown, which in turn makes it less pleasant to shop (and shoppers more likely to "just not bother" visiting shops that they have to double back and cross a busy street to get to).<br />
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Several "new school" traffic engineers around the world have taken this problem head-on not by adding more crosswalks and signage, but by getting rid of the signs and giving every road user more-or-less equal access rights. The operator of the bigger, faster vehicle is responsible for slower operators, so cars yeild to bikes yeild to pedestrians and everyone watches out for children. Real-world trials of these "shared" or "living" street designs that force motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to interact as human beings have shown that the are both <a href="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.12/traffic.html">safer and more efficient. </a><br />
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Traffic flow, in many cases, is actually improved (think about it, while your car CAN go 35 mph on a downtown street, you actually spend a lot of it going 0 mph. A steady 5-15 mph is actually much faster and somewhat less aggravating) and increased pedestrian safety makes it easier and more pleasant to wander around, get lunch, shop and spend money downtown, which in turn leads to a better local business climate, better tax income for the municipality and therefore a lower residential tax burden. <br />
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There's some argument (and not altogether an invalid one) for banning cars from urban centers altogether, and routing them around downtowns instead of straight through them, but this comes with its own trade-offs in mobility and economic issues. Better to get people in cars to slow down and pay attention than to try to keep them out. <br />
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From the business perspective, people don't come to towns where it's pleasant to drive (there is no such place, "pleasant to drive" usually means "middle of nowhere with nice scenery", not "town." Cars are good at getting between places, they usually become a burden once you get there), they come to places where it's pleasant to walk, shop and hang out. If they know they can walk around worry-free, they're ore likely to get out of their car and spend their money.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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