Among the many great comments on yesterday's post was this one:
bikesnobsnob said...
Thanks Sheldon for being open to all those who rode bicycles and for putting aside petty name calling and bitching for the true love of the bicycle. Bikesnob could learn a lesson from you.
Sorry, BSS. A reptile cannot change its scales, and my craven behavior allows us to appreciate SB that much more. The name-calling and bitching shall continue.
Speaking of name-calling, eloquent fossil John Updike inadvertently may have stumbled upon the literary prototype for the mainstream cycling publication bicycle review. As I flipped though this week's issue of "The New Yorker" looking for arty naked pictures, I stumbled upon the b-word in an article he had written about the Irish writer Flann O'Brien. Amidst all Updike's bloviating, I found this quote, from O'Brien's 1940 novel, "The Third Policeman:"
How can I convey the perfection of my comfort on the bicycle, the completeness of my union with her, the sweet responses she gave me at every particle of her frame? ... She moved beneath me with agile sympathy in a swift, airy stride, finding smooth ways among the stony tracks, swaying and bending skillfully to match my changing attitudes, even accommodating her left pedal patiently to the awkward working of my wooden leg.
Stunned, I immediately went to Cyclingnews and read their review of the LeMond Victoire, and found this:
The Victoire performed very well when putting power to the pedals with excellent acceleration, and the light weight coupled with extra layers of carbon at the bottom bracket made the LeMond float on the climbs. With the 72 degree seat angle I felt like I could stay in the saddle comfortably on longer climbs and keep things steady versus constantly swapping between standing and sitting. The Victoire's quick handling takes a bit of getting used to but this translated into great get-up-and-go when going for those end-of-ride sign sprints. Ride quality was spot on overall.
Now I'm no English professor, but it's really just some carbon fiber and a wooden leg away.
Much further towards the crap end of the literary spectrum, of course, are the Craigslist bikes for sale ads. If you're in the market for a new bike, here's the latest ones to avoid:
Looking to trade my 55cm bianchi pista for a nice road bike (Union Square) [original URL: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/560245580.html]
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-02-02, 1:30AM EST
Hello there,
I'm looking to trade my pista for a road bike.
Its a 2007, chrome model.
The stock seatpost and stem have stripped so I am missing those.
(actually still have the seatpost)
Also, I have taken the clear coat off the chrome and scuffed it up a bit,
and I've removed the anodizing on the cranks. They look cool.
lastly, there are three dents in the top tube.
Nevertheless, a new stem and seatpost and this bike is good to go!
Fixed is hard on my knee and I'm looking for a fast road bike.
Hopefully I will find something good.
Looking for steel, lugged, old school but quality.
Could be worn, if worn well.
Thank you
This guy is jumping head-first off the fixed-gear indie band-wagon, abandoning his studiously pre-distressed Pista for a similarly pre-distressed road bike. I wonder if he also rubs his calves on the sidewalk to get fake road rash, makes ollie holes in his Chuck Taylors with a file, and fades his brand-new tattoos under a heat lamp.
**NICE MAKINO FIX GEAR BIKE CHECK IT OUT*** (Chelsea) [original URL: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/559372170.html]
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-02-01, 10:23AM EST
hi iam selling my MAKINO FIX GEAR BIKE!! SIZE IS A 52CM here are some specs! BEST OFFER TAKES IT!!
MAKINO FRAME AND FORK
WORLD FACE HANDLE BARS
TECHROMIC STEM
BONTREGAR SEAT POLE -carbon fiber seat pole- VIPER SEAT STEM IS TECHROMIC MAVIC CX33 BLUE RIMS 18T ON THE REAR RIM VALIANT V2 TIRES BOTH MATCH CHAIN RINGS IS A 48T THE BRAND IS GIRHARDT GIP -LIGHT RED COLOR- WELL IF U HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME THANKS. EMAIL IS [deleted] PS REMEMBER IS A PROFESSIONAL TRACK BIKE THERE R NO BRAKES!!! BEST OFFER TAKES IT!! BEST OFFER TAKES IT!! BEST OFFER TAKES IT!! BEST OFFER TAKES IT!! BEST OFFER TAKES IT!!
What the hell is a "Bontregar Seat Pole?" Is that something the Vikings used to sack villages? I'm sorry that he left out the part about how "this bike is not for the faint of heart." Please somebody make the best offer, take it, and rehabilitate it. It's too late for the owner, but we can still save the bike.
Phil Wood X Mash SF track hubs - $300 (Lower East Side) [original URL: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/558811930.html]
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-01-31, 6:43PM EST
32h 100mm front, 120mm rear. Limited edition. Item located in SAN FRANCISCO. Will ship to NY for free or can meet up in NYC after Feb 15th.
Track, HED, Spinergy, Aerospoke.
Uh-oh, another Mission fixed-gear freestyler is moving east and needs rent money, so he's selling his Phil/Mash collabo hubs. Bushwick ain't cheap anymore. I love the west coast, but I think it's time we implement some kind of quota. Bikes here are getting too bubble-gummy and I squarely blame San Francisco.
attn.wheel builders rare pinapple hub for sale - $65 [original URL: http://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/bik/561790139.html]
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-02-03, 4:45PM EST
rare pinapple hub for sale still built on a rim so you can copy the pattern and spoke lenght ,,rim and nipples are shot..cnc macined hub w/seal cart bearing.32 hole 16 in the hub 16 on the flange must come to together and twist
Who needs Phil Woods anyway? If you want to be original, just build up one of these babies. Or, if you want the same aesthetic effect, lace up a Russet potato. (Just let it sit awhile to grow some eyes).
ULTRA RAD CANNONDALE 29er [original URL: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/561581611.html]
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-02-03, 1:11PM EST
Bad Boy Ultra
hand made Furio aluminum frame size SMALL for riders 5'-9" or smaller; 29 in. standover
ULTRA FATTY FORK with lock out feature
DISK BRAKES
FLAT BAR
CUSH OURY GRIPS
MAVIC 700c/29in. hand made wheels
custom parts- upgraded and lighter
excellent condition- ready to ride
tons of accessories
THEE ULTIMATE STEALTH STREET ROCKET BIKE
$800 obo
Your bike is not a 29er. It is a hybrid on steroids. It is the American Gladiator of hybrids. And it's obviously not housetrained, which is why it's on the paper.
