In 1978 I bought a all chromed Paris Sport bike with vertical dropouts and massive chain stays (531DB) and a thick cast BB shell … after I broke a lighter frame in a sprint up a hill.
It was pretty and with full C-Record and sewups … it weighted about 24lbs.
Unless of course shark-jumping, or rather mocking a silly-assed trend that’s long-jumped, summersaulted, and even backflipped the shark, is the whole point.
Thankfully, I met some nice hippies along the way who introduced me to Crumb. Let’s see, since I’ve been reading we’ve had references to Crumb and 42, can The Dr. be far behind? Or did I miss that day?
Prediction: Thistle’s (hopefully temporary) departure will necessitate taking on Sprocket as an employee, thus ensuring continuing fodder for the Moon/Sprocket feud, and maybe (hopefully) revealing a little more about their past history.
That whole “theives don’t steal ugly bikes” thing is bullshit, at least in Toronto, and I’d imagine other big cities. Crackheads don’t care if a bike has an ugly paint job or scratches, they’re just going to sell them for $10 anyway.
Nicer bikes are of course more appealing to theives with financial plans beyond “buy more crack” but crackheads will steal anything.
I understand how “dinging” a bike could make it less attractive to thieves, but I still don’t get the “pre-stolen” bit. From my perspective, “the pre-stolen look” implies something like, “This bike looks like it’s about to be stolen” or perhaps, “This is a stolen bike, but it still looks like it did just before it was stolen.” Calling it “the anti-theft look” would have made more sense to me.
Fair enough. I picked up on the poor wording myself.
I agree that people will steal any bike, but advertising it with a shiny paint job / parts probably helps them pick out yours from among others in the rack. Ultimately, it’s the easiest one to steal that will be the $10 sale.
I’m not so sure about that. The “things” are meant to be art, not regular rides. Doing it when sales are tradtionally slow in the fall will bring people into the shop when sales are smaller. If they could do it as part of a larger art show with some galleries, that would be cool. I’ve seen events where a number of galleries and so on get together to hold a one-day or multi-day event to promote their works and make a party out of it. Example: Nuit Blanche, an all-night show in Toronto. http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/home.shtml
This is the start of the better biking weather – cooler, but not cold, and still sunny. Had the best ride so far this year on Saturday, riding jeep trails with the thistles and goldenrod blooming. This summer was too damn hot.
My normal winter cycling clothing features suit and tie, overcoat, leather gloves and hat. The coatguard does an excellent job of protecting my coat. If the roads are very nasty wet, I’ll wear galoshes to protect the nice layers of Kiwi polish on my shoes.
Amen – I spent this past weekend cleaning up the mtb trail on my property. It was way too hot to ride anything but road for the last three months, now the Mt. Fuji will come out again.
Actually this is a great time of year for an open house. Closeout old inventory, the new ’11 bikes are arriving or will soon be, fall/winter clothing is in stock, customers can plan their new custom bikes for “next year”. Most high end bikes are sold or ordered in the fall and winter.
I could go for a chromed bike, all chrome except the seat, grips, and pedals. Oh and the tires too of course, but anything that could be chrome done up mirror. Wow. LOL Not that there’s anything wrong with my current sweet ride. She still gets compliments seven years later! I’ll have to put her to bed for the winter soon and get out frankenbike though. ~sigh~ he’s lighter but less comfy and fugly as winter.
I’ve since changed out the rear rack for a much better looking stainless model (bought from VO). The mismatch of browns between the bars and saddle isn’t nearly as glaring in real life, either.
Here in Long Beach, California, there’s every type of bike, but there are lots of chromed out ‘lowrider’ types like at this site — http://www.streetlowrider.com/shop/…
Well of course you would, having never mustered the testicular fortitude to try either. Typical “we-uns in West Virginny ain’t puttin’ down our deep fried pork rinds or givin’ up our two-pack habit just so’s we kin ride some danged fool buy-sickle up no danged hill, dagnabbit*”
Well, the folks that ride these bikes are generally into Low Rider/Cholo culture, so the emphasis is on looking cool over functionality, although they get around town just fine. They move slowly around town, and tend to ride on sidewalks rather than the street, but they get around. One more subculture in the local bike scene.
Back in the 1930s, a great uncle who worked in a tinplate works eliminated rust on his bike by first pickling in acid and then dipping all the ferrous components in a tinning pot (whilst working nights so as not to be detected by management). He said the bike looked astounding and that it started a minor trend amongst other young male cyslists employed in local tinplate works.
Hey, it’s Shaggy and Velma!
Where’s Fred? Scooby? Daphne?
And I’d have gotten away with it if hadn’t been for those meddling kids…
The part of Daphne will be played by Sister Sprocket. Scooby will be played by Fizz. Of course Fred will appear shortly.
Fred is dead.
Roh, Raggy! Rit’s a Ripster! Rurh aray!
In 1978 I bought a all chromed Paris Sport bike with vertical dropouts and massive chain stays (531DB) and a thick cast BB shell … after I broke a lighter frame in a sprint up a hill.
It was pretty and with full C-Record and sewups … it weighted about 24lbs.
I am still riding my 1978 Paris Sport, now as a single speed commuter and around town rig. A great rider
cool story bro.
wait how much did it weighted???
It’s late. Please spare me, oh spelling gods.
What was between Velma’s teeth? I’m afraid that one went over me headie :-/
Oh, nevermind. I see she’s looking in the “mirror.” Nice.
And Shaggy’s doing his hair to make it properly tousled.
I thought that she thought the guy commenting on the chrome frame saw “cake” in her teeth
=v= A Shaker quoting Crumb? Oy vey.
Which is worse, the crumb quote or the use of chrome?
The worse is chomed crumbs of pretended artistry. IOW, the second an artist begins to talk of her art rather than creating it she jumped the shark.
Unless of course shark-jumping, or rather mocking a silly-assed trend that’s long-jumped, summersaulted, and even backflipped the shark, is the whole point.
Chrome plating… not enviro friendly.
Indeed, where would the Good Sister have even had contact with the comics of R. Crumb?
So bright … Shaggy is fixing his hair!
The reporter is an accurate depiction (speaking as a former editor).
CRUMB! Hell Yeah!… Man!!!!
For the youngsters in the crowd:
“The Official R. Crumb Website” <http://rcrumb.com/>.
“… just lines on paper.” See “The R. Crumb Handbook” <http://tinyurl.com/34dhbjb>.
(If you remeber the ’60s, you weren’t there.)
Keep on Bikin!
(If you remeber the ’60s, you weren’t there.)
Or you were born there…I only remember the last half!
Thankfully, I met some nice hippies along the way who introduced me to Crumb. Let’s see, since I’ve been reading we’ve had references to Crumb and 42, can The Dr. be far behind? Or did I miss that day?
Well, I have nicknamed my laptop TARDIS.
Speaking of the TARDIS, we also have Yehudda’s saddlebag: <http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=20091013>
My 1960′s Schwinn Corvette had chrome fenders and a chrome chainguard. It was stylin’. Wish I still had that bike.
Prediction: Thistle’s (hopefully temporary) departure will necessitate taking on Sprocket as an employee, thus ensuring continuing fodder for the Moon/Sprocket feud, and maybe (hopefully) revealing a little more about their past history.
I don’t understand the “dinged thing” note about “the pre-stolen look.” What does that mean?
Makes your new bike less desirable/noticeable to thieves.
That whole “theives don’t steal ugly bikes” thing is bullshit, at least in Toronto, and I’d imagine other big cities. Crackheads don’t care if a bike has an ugly paint job or scratches, they’re just going to sell them for $10 anyway.
Nicer bikes are of course more appealing to theives with financial plans beyond “buy more crack” but crackheads will steal anything.
I understand how “dinging” a bike could make it less attractive to thieves, but I still don’t get the “pre-stolen” bit. From my perspective, “the pre-stolen look” implies something like, “This bike looks like it’s about to be stolen” or perhaps, “This is a stolen bike, but it still looks like it did just before it was stolen.” Calling it “the anti-theft look” would have made more sense to me.
Fair enough. I picked up on the poor wording myself.
I agree that people will steal any bike, but advertising it with a shiny paint job / parts probably helps them pick out yours from among others in the rack. Ultimately, it’s the easiest one to steal that will be the $10 sale.
Reading back, I am worried by the numbers that know that $10 is the going rate
Leave the Thistle family hanging in limbo? That ain’t right.
Next year, they should do this in Spring. Great way to start off better biking weather.
I’m not so sure about that. The “things” are meant to be art, not regular rides. Doing it when sales are tradtionally slow in the fall will bring people into the shop when sales are smaller. If they could do it as part of a larger art show with some galleries, that would be cool. I’ve seen events where a number of galleries and so on get together to hold a one-day or multi-day event to promote their works and make a party out of it. Example: Nuit Blanche, an all-night show in Toronto. http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/home.shtml
This is the start of the better biking weather – cooler, but not cold, and still sunny. Had the best ride so far this year on Saturday, riding jeep trails with the thistles and goldenrod blooming. This summer was too damn hot.
Rest assured, the coming winter will be too %^&#@$!! cold in order to make up for it.
I hope so! I bought a Schwalbe Marathon Winter last year and never got to use it.
There is no such thing as bad weather. Just inadiquate clothing.
If the weather requires me to wear clothing I don’t want to wear, then I consider it bad.
My normal winter cycling clothing features suit and tie, overcoat, leather gloves and hat. The coatguard does an excellent job of protecting my coat. If the roads are very nasty wet, I’ll wear galoshes to protect the nice layers of Kiwi polish on my shoes.
Bullpuckey, hillbilly. Aint NO clothing that makes riding tolerable when it’s triple digits.
Amen – I spent this past weekend cleaning up the mtb trail on my property. It was way too hot to ride anything but road for the last three months, now the Mt. Fuji will come out again.
Actually this is a great time of year for an open house. Closeout old inventory, the new ’11 bikes are arriving or will soon be, fall/winter clothing is in stock, customers can plan their new custom bikes for “next year”. Most high end bikes are sold or ordered in the fall and winter.
I could go for a chromed bike, all chrome except the seat, grips, and pedals. Oh and the tires too of course, but anything that could be chrome done up mirror. Wow. LOL Not that there’s anything wrong with my current sweet ride. She still gets compliments seven years later! I’ll have to put her to bed for the winter soon and get out frankenbike though. ~sigh~ he’s lighter but less comfy and fugly as winter.
I ride an “all” chromed 1980 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 (when I’m not riding a recumbent). Pics here:
http://www.dancing-with-dogs.com/Voyageur/
I’ve since changed out the rear rack for a much better looking stainless model (bought from VO). The mismatch of browns between the bars and saddle isn’t nearly as glaring in real life, either.
Here in Long Beach, California, there’s every type of bike, but there are lots of chromed out ‘lowrider’ types like at this site — http://www.streetlowrider.com/shop/…
Never coulod understand that lot. Drugs, maybe? Why else would anyone make a bike LESS efficient?
I feel the same way about fixies and singlespeeds.
Well of course you would, having never mustered the testicular fortitude to try either. Typical “we-uns in West Virginny ain’t puttin’ down our deep fried pork rinds or givin’ up our two-pack habit just so’s we kin ride some danged fool buy-sickle up no danged hill, dagnabbit*”
*cue banjo
Well, the folks that ride these bikes are generally into Low Rider/Cholo culture, so the emphasis is on looking cool over functionality, although they get around town just fine. They move slowly around town, and tend to ride on sidewalks rather than the street, but they get around. One more subculture in the local bike scene.
Funny – this also appeared today from Velo Orange.
http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2010/09/fillet-brazed-rando-frame.html
If only S. Sprocket made it!
Back in the 1930s, a great uncle who worked in a tinplate works eliminated rust on his bike by first pickling in acid and then dipping all the ferrous components in a tinning pot (whilst working nights so as not to be detected by management). He said the bike looked astounding and that it started a minor trend amongst other young male cyslists employed in local tinplate works.
You CAN’T just leave the Ginn family as another victim of the hopey-changey thing. Thistle is worth at least TEN of the ashtray-mouthed nun.
Keep your politics off this strip, Mongo.
Since Mongo has repeatedly disgraced himself here, his political comments are a handy guide. Just add 180 degrees.
George, put down the booze and go to bed.
my nishiki has alot of croming
Hey! I ride a “tweed” bike with a herringbone pattern! (frame two)