Archive for the 'bike' Category

Quick Hack For Plugging Pesky Sized Handlebars

Published January 20, 2013 bike Leave a Comment
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I’ve been using SOMA handlebars for years, and my use of them has lasted the span of two different bicycles. They are great bars that come in comfortable shapes and narrow sizes that I prefer for city riding, but their circumference can be funky. The last bars I owned had a small circumference that wouldn’t fit any standard handlebar plug, which left me with an open metal circle just waiting for the right time to empale. My current handlebars (pictured below) are way too wide, and can’t be plugged up with just any standard bartape plug.

I use Grip Rings in lieu of handlebar tape, which if bought in a pack come with handy little end plugs that can be made wider with the turn of an allen key to snuggly fit most handlebars. Unfortunately, some handlebars, including my current SOMAs, are still too wide.

In the case you find yourself scratching your head because the circumference of your handlebars are “unconventionally” sized too large, here’s a quick hack for making your plugs fit and creating a safer bike to ride.

Step 1: Admit you have a problem…
grip empty

Step 2: Cut up a small piece of gasket rubber to fit inside of your handlebars.
gasket

Step 3: Measure your cropped gasket rubber to make sure it’s a proper fit (no overlapping).
grip gasket out

Step 4: Insert the gasket rubber in the handlebars, making sure it’s flush with the end of the bars.
grip gasket in

Step 5: Plug ‘em up! If you have Grip Rings, this will allow you to tighten to fit. If it’s still wide, add another piece of gasket rubber.
grip final

A Cool Thing Happened On My Bike Ride To Work Today

Published December 12, 2012 bike , san francisco 2 Comments
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I was waiting at a stoplight on 14th street today when a guy on a bike behind me said, “Hey, can I ask you a quick question. Was that bike stolen off a MUNI bus?”

I wouldn’t normally be excited to have strangers accuse me of being in possession of stolen property, but the bike I was riding, which this guy was referring to when he asked me if it was stolen, looked vaguely similar to my previous bike which was stolen off the front of a MUNI bus on November 6th.

When I told this guy that the bike I was currently riding hadn’t been stolen from a MUNI bus (it was purchased legally from a friend), but that my old bike had indeed been stolen from the front of a MUNI, he said that the PVC tees attached to my frame reminded him of a bike he had read about that had been stolen off MUNI.

The PVC tees are part of a surfboard rack, which were on my old when it was stolen and currently are on my new bike.

doug bikes

You see I was so bummed when my bike was stolen that I took to this little blog to write all about it. Thankfully the good people at Mission Mission, SFist and Uptown Almanac helped me out and did the same. And this guy had read about my stolen bike, remembered it had PVC tees on it, and well over a month after it was taken from me had the good nature to ask a total stranger if he was riding a stolen bike to presumable help out a fellow bicyclist!

While my old bike is still gone, and never coming back, it’s awesome to know that there are people out there (strangers no doubt) still looking out for you.

…and we’re back

Published December 3, 2012 bike , Surf 2 Comments
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bike new

Some dbag stole my bike last month, and I’ve rebuilt anew. I’m riding around on a baby blue frame these days. I considered the bike complete once I got my surfboard rack back on. The new PVC tees are slightly improved with the addition of gasket rubber, which acts as a grippy lining between the bike frame and PVC. I’ve been riding 6-foot and smaller boards these days, but I think I could get heavier (longer) boards on the bike if I wanted with this slight upgrade.

gasket rubber

tee rubber

A Cautionary Tale About Putting Your Bike On A MUNI Bus

Published November 7, 2012 bike , san francisco 5 Comments
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I was enjoying some after work drinks on Election Night when I decided I had one too many to safely ride my bike home. I put my bike on the front rack of an outbound #71 at Market and 2nd, and took a seat on the front of the bus. I was on the sixth seat back, and had a decent view of my bike. The next stop was Stockton and we pulled up to a red light. As people were boarding the bus I had my head down until the driver called out that someone was taking my bike. By the time I stood up my bike was gone. I ran off the bus and headed back down Market assuming the thief was riding off in that direction but I couldn’t see anything among the lights of Market Street rush hour traffic.

So long bike.

I like to believe that everything happens for a reason, so hopefully my shitty experience will prevent other people from having their bicycles jacked on a bus. Never take your eye off your bike, and if you can throw a u-lock around the tire and frame before you put it on the rack.

I’m not optimistic about getting my bike back, but if you see it on craigslist or at a flea market please don’t buy it. It’s just a bike, but I liked it very much. Here’s what it looked like when it was stolen:

Free Wheels While Northeast Recovers From Hurricane Sandy

Published November 1, 2012 bike , New York City Leave a Comment
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Online bike rental marketplace, Liquid (formerly Spinlister), is doing their part to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy by offering a $25 credit to rent a bike. Here’s the post from the Liquid blog:

Most bikes are between $10-$20 a day to rent. Hopefully this will help a few people navigate NYC during a difficult time while public transportation is being restored.

Dan Malloy Gets It

Published October 9, 2012 bike , san francisco , Surf Leave a Comment
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[via Patagonia's tumblr]

Dan Malloy is a “surf ambassador” for Patagonia. He’s been on the Slow is Fast tour which recently brought Dan and his travel companions through San Francisco. Here’s what the tour is about:

So, three weeks ago, Kanoa Zimmerman, Kellen Keene and myself jumped on a train headed north, with bicycles, a surfboard, wet suites, flippers, a microphone and a couple cameras. The idea was to surf down the coast by bike, staying with friends, family and acquaintances, poaching camps when we have to, doing our best to earn our keep and to learn from folks that are doing good work and getting by along the california coast.

Only reason to bike up to the top of Bernal with a board is for the photo, and I think it may have been worth it. Looks like it was a nice evening. Dan gets it.

So Many Bicycle Commuters

Published September 6, 2012 bike , san francisco 1 Comment
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Look at all these healthy, earth conscious mofos riding home during rush hour yesterday.

Bike lanes busting at the seams. So many of us bicycle commuters.

We’re almost at the point of having to wait multiple lights at intersections with this sort of volume (not really, we burn reds).

Epic Bike Journey Guy

Published August 30, 2012 bike , san francisco Leave a Comment
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This guy was in front of me on my way to work this morning. I was riding my bike to sit in a cube for 8 hours, he was finishing the leg of a journey that started Vancouver.

I didn’t ask his name, but found out he was just a few blocks from his next stopping point. He was headed to the Caltrain station where a ride would be waiting to take him to Burning Man.

He had a British accent and told me that he’d been in North America for a couple months riding his bike up and down both coasts and into Canada. His bike carried everything he needed to live, which included a tent, clothing and plastic water bottles that looked in need of refills.

I wished him a safe journey and a good time at Burning Man. He told me to enjoy my ride and have a good day.

Dog Mobile

Published July 2, 2012 bike , san francisco Leave a Comment
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Ciji spotted this guy and his dog riding through the Panhandle a couple days ago. The dog looks like a captain sitting in the hull of a ship. They pulled up along side of us, and I asked Ciji to take a pic. Who’s better than this guy?

Bike Parking

Published May 31, 2012 bike , Frederick Knob Leave a Comment
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We are a civilized bunch of bike parkers in FKnob, where motor and pedal coexist.

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