tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9241204.post4653392606570377486..comments2024-01-15T14:14:40.035-05:00Comments on Citizen Rider: Interesting Weekcafiendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749761363337659545noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9241204.post-41610916790054749502009-08-11T21:56:51.508-05:002009-08-11T21:56:51.508-05:00I hate to profile for a couple of reasons. First a...I hate to profile for a couple of reasons. First and most importantly, one must always remember that any driver can be a dipstick. Second, hell hath no fury like a woman stereotyped. We must respect all people's right, whatever their gender or other superficial characteristics, to be a total asshat. If they're in a car, be ready for anything.cafiendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05749761363337659545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9241204.post-25382755654183292582009-08-11T21:35:50.980-05:002009-08-11T21:35:50.980-05:00Is it just me, or are women in their cars more dan...Is it just me, or are women in their cars more dangerous to cyclists than men? Twice in the last week I have been passed while in a left turn lane (after checking traffic and signalling), at speed and on the right, by a woman who then cut in front of me to wait at the light ahead of me, she thought; for I of course made it to the front of the line, as well.<br /><br />This morning, the Q-tip who did this passed within a foot of me.<br /><br />When I pointed out to her the error of her ways, pointed with only one finger toward heaven of course, she returned the gesture. What a mean old bag--emphatically.<br /><br />So, are we more at risk from women drivers, or is it just my bad luck?RCMC467https://www.blogger.com/profile/00687552610750848543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9241204.post-19932302320822097842009-08-11T13:17:56.125-05:002009-08-11T13:17:56.125-05:00Rantwick, our custom bikes are every bit as cool a...Rantwick, our custom bikes are every bit as cool as the high-priced spread. Our ingenuity lets us build for the ages much more than the riders who buy the latest greatest, only to see it abandoned by the manufacturer in a few years at most.<br /><br />Sometimes I like to just sit and look at them.cafiendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05749761363337659545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9241204.post-721920675389746452009-08-11T13:14:58.568-05:002009-08-11T13:14:58.568-05:00RCMC467, it's interesting to find out what par...RCMC467, it's interesting to find out what parts of the economy are moving and what aren't. We're doing a lot of service work, but that's not enough to support the whole shop. New bikes sales are spotty. Clothing sales are slow. Panic discounts don't stimulate spending much and erode our working margin, further weakening our future position.<br /><br />XC skiing and cycling are weather-dependent as well as at the mercy of both economic conditions and the low level of interest in physical activity. We have problems even in good economies and strangely can sidestep some recessions, as we did when selling mountain bikes during the recession of the 1990s.<br /> *****<br />Top-mount friction shifters are available. Most are low-end, friction only. You can also buy Paul Thumbies or a similar mount to convert a barcon to top-mount positioning. They're generally pricier.<br /> ******<br />I enjoy a good workshop challenge. It isn't as much fun as it used to be, because it seems like I just crawl out at the end of the day with little acknowledgment, but the problem solving can be fun.<br /> *****<br />Nice video.cafiendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05749761363337659545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9241204.post-9633537941414125292009-08-10T12:12:13.449-05:002009-08-10T12:12:13.449-05:00Maybe, if you watch a little bit of cycling video,...Maybe, if you watch a little bit of cycling video, special video, you'll feel better about your week (1:36).<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVRhk_u14m0&feature=PlayList&p=EF9D165191432216&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=51RCMC467https://www.blogger.com/profile/00687552610750848543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9241204.post-77990604702111190042009-08-10T12:05:10.601-05:002009-08-10T12:05:10.601-05:00Wow...sounds like you had a really tough week. Lo...Wow...sounds like you had a really tough week. Look at it this way though; at least you're busy. The mattress business, my business, is dead all over, but especially here in "The Valley of the Sun." I spend 40-50 hours a week WAITING; waiting for the customer who does not show.<br /><br />By the way, do you know if there is a friction-shift version of shifters available to replace the rapid-fire-8 speed shifters on my Yukon?<br /><br />Here's hoping this week is better for you--for all of us.RCMC467https://www.blogger.com/profile/00687552610750848543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9241204.post-15407285087181595732009-08-09T23:32:43.223-05:002009-08-09T23:32:43.223-05:00I think you do a pretty damn good job of describin...I think you do a pretty damn good job of describing high-end owning customers without ridiculing them. In many ways I am beginning to think that my bikes, built up with good-not-great componentry on mid-level, sometimes used frames are every bit the equal of high-end but under-loved bikes.<br /><br />In some schlocky way I feel like my bikes know I love them rather than just own them.RANTWICKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15394479078513545568noreply@blogger.com