RACE DAY!!!

Worst of ATX Craigslist #8

So I have to start out with one, that I sent to the BSNYC.

One of a Kind, Kick Ass, Classic Bianchi Fixie - $1300 (Central)
Reply to: sale-837131947@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-09-11, 5:46PM CDT






This is a 1972 Bianchi frame bought straight out of Milan, vintage campy set-up, 52:18, Selle seat, put the whole thing together myself check out the picture and email with questions.


Okay, I Know the bike snob has the pista dex totally covered, but when I saw this pop up in my own home town, I had to say something about it. I have seen plenty of other pista's go for prices almost as high as this, but not quite this high. I understand that it is from the 70's making it vintage, but really the bike is only worth that much to collector's. Just sayin, I wouldn't pay 1300 for a pista.

Edit: Whoever is selling this changed their posting after I posted this blog, the new link is here.

OLC


Aluminum Fixed Gear - $500 (West Campus)
Reply to: sale-837031175@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-09-11, 4:25PM CDT



55cm brushed aluminum conversion, a fresh build with about 10 miles on it. Fits a rider under 5'10".
-New formula hub wheelset, 48/17 ratio, 17 tooth flip flop freewheel.
-Aero fork, drop bars (shown) or risers if you prefer
-Toe cages, finger brake and new handle bar tape of your choice (not shown in the picture).

This bike is a definite looker.

Give me a call if interested
512-964-xxxx
-Will



Well I guess it doesn't matter what the frame is as long as it is aluminum. I mean it could be a walmart bike for all we know. It also looks as to have a HUGE dent in the chain stay. No description of the wheels, except that it has a flip flop hub. Well, he didn't say what kind of frame either, so I guess that is to be expected. I'm surprised he put what size the bike is. I do love the choice of risers or drops, and choice of bar tape!!!! woooohooo!!!


This one just made me about laugh and piss myself.

vintage SCHWINN Sprint single speed - $275 (NORTH)
Reply to: see below
Date: 2008-09-11, 2:59PM CDT









red SCHWINN Sprint
single speed
54 cm
drop handlebars with new grips
front brake

needs new tires
bike is in good condition
ready to ride
512 554 xxxx


*sorry for no pictures, do not have access to a camera*
this picture however is very similar to the bike being sold (minus the water bottle holder, the back brake, the grips are yellow instead of black, it is a single speed and older tires)


Okay??? Seriously?? Why would you be asking 275 for a bike you don't even have pictures of? I mean I get not having a really bad ass digital camera, but almost everyone has a crappy cell phone camera. Don't ask that much for a bike that you don't even have a picture of, I doubt that thing is even a Schwinn.



til next time


OLC

a couple of video's I think fit

So I found a couple of video's that I think fit into what this blog is some what about. I mean it does deal with cars, and bicycle's.

Enjoy, second one is a little goofy.




(Stolen from Adriel over at Austin Cycling News


til next time


OLC

Us vs Them

No I am not talking about the pink floyd song. I am talking about cars vs bikes. I know that everyday we cyclist have to deal with a fair amount of cars flying by us as if we're not there. Sometimes it can seem a bit much. What I cannot stand, or stand for is when a car full of teenagers decide to throw full bottles of water out of their speeding Volvo at me.

Well that is is exactly what happened to me yesterday. I decided to ride out to the lady's job and give her a surprise visit. On my way I was on Barton Springs road, heading west. I was in front of Austin Tri Cyclist and a Volvo with three teenage douche bags and one slut almost hit me and the front passenger throws his full bottle of water at me. I take off in full pursuit, because as many of you know I can't stand that shit. As I duck down and start pedaling my ass off, they see me in full chase and start to speed off even faster, swerving in and out of traffic. They get stopped at the light on Lamar.



I am the little person and the silver Volvo is the silver box and the red one is the car in front of them. Our light was red and the north bound traffic was going north. The kids saw me coming up and fast, so they started reeving their engine and tried to get around the car in front of them to go. I yelled at them and said why did you throw shit at me? If you want to throw something at me, be a man and get out of the car. At this point they were being typical teenagers and started running their mouths off. This pissed me off even more and I told them to pull over, this is when they driver started to pull away, and then the guy in the back passenger seat decided to stick his head out of the window and said, "you fucking faggot, get on the sidewalk".

This kind of shit bothers the hell out of me. I was riding minding my own business not even taking the whole lane, which I can do, and shit gets thrown out of a speeding vehicle that almost hits me. I know that cyclist piss motorist off, but we have a right to be on the road, just as much as them. I really wish that everyone on the road would have at least some common courtesy for the other people on the road.


til next time

OLC

worst of craigslist #7

Ok so I haven't done one of these in awhile, so I figured I would.

56CM Vintage Schwinn Varsity Fixie - $650 (Hyde Park)
Reply to: sale-816679685@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-08-28, 11:16AM CDT


I have a custom orange and white fixie bike I am parting with. The fiancé says I have to get rid of one if I bring another in. I guess it isn’t too much to ask for considering we have 6 bikes. This bike is one of the best you will find. First, it is a 70’s all steel frame (can’t break em even if you want to). I have shaved off every single brake line and have torched off the kick stand and have welded back a smooth finish so there are no unnecessary components. It is truly the ultimate minimalist bike. I had the frame powdercoated in orange and the fork powdercoated in white. The wheels are Wienmann Deep-V 700C white rims with white hubs. The rear hub is a flip flop just in-case you want to be free from the fixed gear and want a single speed. It has bullhorn handlebars with white coark grip tape and a track front brake. The orange brake line is from a shop in the UK (trying to find one in the US is impossible). It even has the original white Schwinn headbadge. Every detail has been thought of on this bike and it is an eye-catcher on the streets! I probably spent close to a $1000 and a ton of man hours in the shop welding it. $650 is a scream for this custom ride and I will stay firm at this price.



Alright, so this person says they spent close to a 1000 dollars and a ton of man hours. Well I don't see were the 1000 dollars came from. First powder coating you can get done for about a buck fifty. Second, the wheelset for 200, if you shop around. Third the frame you can almost get from anywhere, it isn't that special of a frame. There is nothing custom about the bike other than it is orange. You can find many other "fixies" for cheaper that look about the same, minus the paint. Asking 650 for something that you can build yourself for way cheaper is a scream itself.


Fixie 53 or 54 cm...good for campus - $160 (austin)
Reply to: sale-816542854@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-08-28, 9:47AM CDT


needs a little work, but she rides smooth... the only problem is the handlebar stem needs replacing (it's so-so right now, but i just uhhh... taped it into place), but thats pretty cheap and easy if you head over to yellowbike or something...

otherwise, it's a nice bike needs a good home. I just bought it for 160$ last week and decided after many years of riding them, that I don't want to ride a fixie around anymore...so come and get it for 160$, anytime today is fine.. im in east austin off of manor rd.



I guess my main issue with this bike, besides being ugly as hell is this.

I just bought it for 160$ last week and decided after many years of riding them,that I don't want to ride a fixie around anymore...

Really, you rode them for years, and know exactly what a fixed ride is like, but you chose to purchase a shitty bike and then turn around and sell it for the same price because you just don't want to ride fixie anymore? So why did you really buy it? I haven't seen this beaut on CL at any point in time. Did you buy it really dirt cheap or have it given to you and are trying to flip it? If so that is totally fine, but the reason you give is just retarded.

OnGuard Mastiff and Beast Chain Locks (input please) (Austin)
Reply to: sale-815292418@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-08-27, 11:54AM CDT





Hi,
I am wondering if anybody has experience And/Or knowledgable input/feedback on those On-Guard Mastiff and Beast Chain-Link locks ...
The bike shop i go to has those locks priced Higher than U-locks....

They look Extremely Heavy Duty and have that $3501.00 Anti-Theft Protection plan ...

Any input would be appreciated, thanks

I emailed them and told them this.

Go to home depot and buy their biggest chain and heavy duty lock. That is going to run you around 2o bucks. Or you can pay this.

I'm so sick of seeing this.

bicycle engine kit - $325 (austin)
Reply to: sale-810452757@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-08-24, 7:52AM CDT




New bicycle engine kit 4-stroke 40cc. chain drive, easy to install. Call 512-542-**** for more info.

What is the point of having a BICYCLE, if you are going to put a motor on it. Get a fucking scooter. (sorry Stallone, you have since redeemed yourself buying that 29'er)

Seriously, one of the best reason's to ride a bike is the exercise and the fact that you get to see things that you normally wouldn't see, because you are just flying by.


I dunno, maybe I am being a little jaded, but it is my blog, and I get to have my own opinion on things.


til next time

OLC

Bike Polo

So on Saturday we played bike polo once again. Kevin brought his camera and Jenn took some video. Yours truly scored a goal around four minutes in.


Austin Bike Polo 08/23/08 from kevin on Vimeo.

If you haven't made it out polo, I suggest you come on out. If you live in a city that doesn't have it....the start it up!!!


til next time


OLC

The race is offically on

So the race is going to be a blast. I will along with Wahoo's be providing food at the finish line. Go ahead and start riding hard, because this race will be hard....but well worth it. Great times, great food, and great prizes are to be had. So make sure you clear your schedule for the Sunday before Halloween, because this is going to be epic!!


Oh and I am going to give a prize for best dresses....So come dressed up in your favorite Halloween costume!!!!



til next time

OLC

You know that it was going to happen. HALLOWEEN ALLEYCAT

Alright kids, sorry for not writing in here in awhile, but things have been pretty busy for me. I know that is not an excuse, but the wait is going to be well worth it.


I am officially going to be putting on another alleycat race. It will be held on October 26th. I'm not sure where I will be starting from, but it is going to be WAY better than the last race. All I am going to leak out right now is that the finish line will be at Wahoo's fish taco's and I will be providing everyone some food, if you were in the race....and maybe a couple of tasty beverages.






Stay tuned for more details!!!!


til next time

OLC

Gotta love certain drivers and editors

No I am not talking about golf. I am talking about all the different types of automobile drivers that are out there. All of us have driven a car in our lifetime. Some more than others, but that doesn't change the fact that most of us (that read this blog anyways)both drive and ride.

The reason for the blog today are a few different things. First a few weeks ago an article sparked mine and a few others interest. Well the editor of the chronicle had this to say in response to the letters that were sent to the chronicle. Louis Black said that

"Let's get realistic here. Moser's column is often a bitch-fest and frequently over-the-top. Anyone thinking that Moser and comrades are really going to plow into bike riders or are seriously encouraging others to do so is really stretching. I don't really believe most folks thought that Moser was actually advocating violence rather than vividly indulging in his sometimes Queen of Hearts, "Off with their heads!" hyperbole".

This was in response to what Moser said in his column last week.

"Speaking of bikes, my heart began to turn to stone as I was stopped at Riverside and Lamar watching a parade of bikes indulging, presumably, in some form of civil disobedience. What that meant was that dozens of clowns on bicycles took up the entire street and brought most traffic to a standstill. After several minutes of obnoxious waving and smiling from the riders, I was ready to pull a Lizzie Grubman and plow right through them and be on my way. But I was hesitant to rack up a lot of hit-and-run charges against me ... and then there would be all that damage to my car. The thing is, all the smiling and waving did not make me sympathetic to the scofflaws' 'cause.' It made me think: 'Don't give bikes the right. Give 'em the finger.'"

Now I understand that he is saying that Moser was just kidding and that he would never actually do that, but how many husbands who beat there wives and say "I'm going to kill you bitch" actually do? Quite a few I'm sure. So it would only be understandable that a few of the cyclist may take offense to what Moser said. That I am sure what most of the letters and comments about the article were about. The fact that there are people how have a strong disliking towards the cycling community. As you all know there have been quite a few "accidents" involving motorist and cyclist, and I am sure that most of them are in fact accidents.

Lets take a look at this.

Christian Stoehr recounts "We were riding downhill at approximately 30 mph when a car came up behind us, must have been doing 50 mph, and the driver started honking at us. We moved to the right in single file within seconds and the motorist pulled along Ron and started screaming at him. He then pulled in front of us with 3-5 feet to spare and slammed on his brakes, giving us no time to stop. I swerved and almost made it, clipping the car and flying through the air and landing in the street. Ron had no room to move and he went straight into the back of the car, putting his face through the back window."

The driver of the vehicle stopped his car and continued the tirade, identifying himself as a Doctor but never offering medical attention.

This is coming from the laist LA's version of the chronicle. The fact is people out there don't like the idea of someone riding a bike in the road, and taking up some of their precious time. This guy is a fucking doctor for christ sakes. This is what everyone was talking about. I'm sure this doctor has said what Moser said before because he was held up at a light for a few extra minutes.

It upsets me to hear that people want to run over cyclist, even if they are joking. I've been hit several times, spent several days in ICU for it too. I am not saying that Moser doesn't have a right to free speech, but the fact is, what he said can be taken very much out of context. If in fact he was joking.

Take this for example.

HOUSTON - Wal-Mart is pulling from its shelves a popular Mexican comic book that features a protagonist with exaggerated black features after a Houston customer complained that "Memin Pinguin" was racist.

Now I'm not saying that this particular situation is not a sensitive one, but the comic, first published in the 1940s, revolves around Memin Pinguin, a small Mexican-Cuban boy whose street smarts and adventures reflect the life of a poor boy in Mexico City. The boy, portrayed as a like able rascal, earns money shining shoes and selling newspapers to help his mother.

So people get sensitive about things, I know I did when I first read the article. I just wish that when a cyclist gets sensitive about the subject of, someone stating in a widely read paper, that they wanna plow through them, but they didn't because of it would mess up the paint on their car, that they would just read what the people were saying and take it to heart. Just as the people at Wal-mart did.

As for the whole Critical Mass part of the article, all I have to say about that is this. I don't ride in critical mass for protesting reasons. I ride because I enjoy riding my bike. I enjoy being around friends who are doing the same things. I enjoy the fact that I am less likely to get hit because of the size of the group.

I'm tired of waking up in the morning and going through my normal routine only to see something like this.

"poor poor jamal was hit by a car while riding to my house after midnight ridaz. he hit jamal's rear wheel throwing him to the curb on 45th. the driver was REAL drunk and insisted i not call 911. jamal grabed my phone out of my hand and called 911. as he did that the driver ran to his car and peeled off. the police came and i gave them the plate #. the car was found in the police database and mached the discription i gave for the driver. so a little scraches and about 4 houres of sleep later im a work and jamal is passed out at my house on airport. so if you want to drive his ass home GO GET HIM. i mean what a cock and ball, hit and run deaf people. now iv seen it all"

Andy

As for the case with Jamal, I really hope the APD cracks down on the driver. This is really starting to get old. Motorist just don't seem to care about anyone but themselves, and it is starting to show more and more.


til next time


OLC

Midnight Ridazz "OOOGGGAA BOOOGGGAAA" Ride

That's right kids, it is time to grab your loin cloths, club and have fun with the invention of the wheel.

The ride meets at Donn's Depot on West 5th street at 9pm.

To piggy back

On yesterdays post, I would like to also make a 30 second video that promotes bicycle safety and try and get it put on the air. It will take some help from other folks who have camera equipment and folks who would want to be in the video. I think that we could get this aired on local television and have the city help with the cost.

Let me know what your ideas are and if you want to help.


Thanks,

OLC

Austin should put something together like this

Recently, on my daily surfing of the web, I found this video on youtube.



I'm going to put together a letter and maybe a petition to get something like this put into place. I think as a police training video, this will help cyclist and police officers know the full law and actually help cyclist. The video is a little cheesy, but I am sure that if the cycling community and the APD work together, we could put something together that is very similar if not way better. Once I get the petition together I will post a link to it here. Feel free to send your email address to me, and I will keep you up to date on what is going on.

If you have any ideas, or thoughts on this, please let me know.


til next time

OLC

Fort Worth Alleycat

So I was informed that some of the folks up i Fort Worth are putting together an alleycat. These are always fun, and if I was injured, I would do my best to go up there and participate in it. These races take place on the street with no street closures. So if you race in it, be sure to be race safe. Getting first for a race is no prize for possibly getting injured.

Here are the details, if anyone goes to this, let me know how it turns out.

the sightseer
july 20 meet at 8pm
at the chatroom pub 1263 w. magnolia fort worth, tx (across the street from the spiral diner)
theres prizes to be won, and a party to follow at the chat room.

If you need more information, contact Trae at his myspace.

They're hoping based on the turnout of this race to organize an all day bike scavenger hunt in October!



til next time


OLC

Another cyclist in Austin dies

This is going to be in the statesman tomorrow (today). When are people going to start paying more attention when they are driving. How many cyclist need to die before people realize that cyclist are also traffic on the road? It is the same old story, the sun was in my eyes, I didn't see them there. Maybe if you paid a little more attention then you would see that you are not the center of the universe.

Another husband, father, brother and cyclist is now gone. I wish I didn't have to write blogs about cyclist getting hit, or dying, but I feel like the people how do read my blog need to know, and I wish that people who don't read it that would.

My heart goes out to his family and friends. If you do drive as well as ride, pay attention. I know you do, because you don't want to be on the end of being hit.

til next time

OLC

Fucking makes me SICK!!!!

Holy fuck sticks. This pisses me off so much. I cannot believe that this guy still has a job after what he posted in the Austin Chronicle. I know that everyone is titled to their opinion, and he certainly is, but when you talk about committing multiple (possible) murders/assaults, that kind of draws the line.

"FREEWHEELING I recently went to Tribeza's party at Lance Armstrong's new venture, Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop at Fourth and Nueces. I suppose if I were really into bikes, I'd have been in hog heaven, but I made do with plenty of socializing with old friends instead. Lance greeted me warmly; I thanked him for the marvelous sponsor party he gave before the Texas Film Hall of Fame. He, in turn, was most solicitous about my cancer and gave me a big spiritual boost that made the rest of the evening fly by. I especially laughed over the in-store coffee shop called Juan Pelota Cafe. You figure that one out. Speaking of bikes, my heart began to turn to stone as I was stopped at Riverside and Lamar watching a parade of bikes indulging, presumably, in some form of civil disobedience. What that meant was that dozens of clowns on bicycles took up the entire street and brought most traffic to a standstill. After several minutes of obnoxious waving and smiling from the riders, I was ready to pull a Lizzie Grubman and plow right through them and be on my way. But I was hesitant to rack up a lot of hit-and-run charges against me ... and then there would be all that damage to my car. The thing is, all the smiling and waving did not make me sympathetic to the scofflaws' "cause." It made me think: "Don't give bikes the right. Give 'em the finger.""


He doesn't seem to mind "crawling" the streets when it is the gay pride parade, but doesn't want to wait 5 minutes for some cyclist to have their one day where we can ride in mass.

"DRIVE-BY MOMENTS With my chauffeur/sister-in-crime Stephen Rice commandeering the Champagne-pink 1965 Cadillac Coupe DeVille convertible, we sailed (well, crawled) through the streets of Austin along the Austin Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's Pride Parade route. I kept wondering what I really wanted to throw from the car: Rocks? Cocktails? Bon mots? Instead, we settled for tossing garish beads and Twinkies"


If I ever see this guy in person, I will tell him what I think of him and punch him in the dick. The problem with that, is he might like it. I will be sending a formal email to the chronicle to fire or at least reprimand him in some way. I hope that you who live in Austin will do the same.

til next time


Your pissed off blogger,


OLC