Findings While Training pt. 1 28.May.2009

Here’s what I found out so far, especially after the great ride I had tonight:

Things To Do:

• B.B. overhaul
• Headset inspection (comes loose too often while riding…)
• Install drop bars with a shorter stem
• Install new cables and shifting system

Things I Need:

• Better saddle (looking for a Brooks Saddle or its equivalent)
• Better fenders (plastic = worthless and unstable)
• Pedals with more grip when wet
• More water while riding
• Batteries for my light

I also found that I love going really, really fast and I’m glad my bike has low enough gears to feed my addiction!

On a side note, this marks my second day of no smoking…I think I’m going to make a pact with myself and only smoke when I drink which, due to recent money troubles (I spend to damn much of it), that won’t happen often. Yay.

My next task is to find a bike mechanics job. I applied for one, got turned down, will try again in person because online applications are BS in my opinion. I guess I’ll just have to keep trying…

K BYE! SEE YOU LATER!

- The Nator

State College is getting a new bike lane! 7.May.2009

Read the article HERE

We’re moving on the up and up !

I love how you can tell that the person who left the second comment isn’t a local. If he was, he would be riding a bike.

“I’m Going To California” 3.May.2009

Yes I know. Everyone says that. Some of them actually go; most don’t. The ones that do go end up failing out there and coming back home to stay. My plan is not to stay there forever. That takes care of the “failing” part. I want to go there for a few months, then come back. And that takes care of the second problem.

Here’s the plan: The TransAmerican Trail. Yes, yet another thing ‘everyone’ has done before. I’m not looking for originality here. I am taking bicycling, the thing I love to do the most, and taking it to another level. I’m going to take it and do what I’ve never done before: travel. I’ve been stuck in this town for 21 years. I’ve only visited 4 other states within my lifetime and, it was for no longer than a week long maximum. The two things that have held me back from going anywhere has been either school or work. I have been done with school for a while now so now I just have to work on my job situation. The best solutions I’ve come up with are to save up as much money as I can for the next 2 1/5 years, as well as training as much as I can and hope for a job transfer. I want to be in California for at least 6 months are so so, if I cannot get a job transfer, I can at least find an easy job for the few months I’ll be there. Something like McDonalds for all I care. The goal here isn’t to survive California just to say I did, it is to be able to travel, if for just once, and go on the best trip ever.

I’m also not going on this alone so don’t worry. I have my friends Jasmine and Frank who are going alone with me. It’s going to be perfect having them along with me, especially since Frank is a certified bicycle mechanic. That covers all of the “breakdown” situations we may encouter along the way. I am also learning as much as I can about bicycle mechanics as I can over the next 2 1/5 years. I was learning bike mechanics before this crazy idea came to life but, now I have to put what I’ve learned so far into practice now so I can perfect them before we head out. I’m also reading bicycle touring sites (mainly www.crazyguyonabike.com) and I’m getting a membership with the Adventure Cycling Association. With ACA I can get maps for the trail as well as a book with connections to things like places to stay, attractions, etc.. Basically, this trip is planned out already, I just have to go.

And go I shall.

This is going to be SO much fun

Just a quick update 13.April.2009

New pictures of my bike mods are up on my flickr account. Go check them out

GO!

Long Time No See… 10.April.2009

Update time! Here’s a quick run down of what’s been going on in my life:

• I have a new, fun job that I work full time
• I have my own apartment now, closer to work and downtown (bike shops, music stores, etc.)
• It turns out I lost 20+ pounds from biking last summer alone! Right now I weigh less than I did in high school!!!
• I have moved closer to modifying my bicycle and I’m getting training started for a trip across the TransAmerican Trail!
• Since loosing the weight I can ride faster and for longer distances than I ever could before!!

I’m going to also update my Flickr account sometime soon here so keep a look out for that as well.

How To Take A Guitar Home On A Bicycle 7.November.2008

Step 1.) Put your guitar on a case that is too small (because your friend lost your good case).
Step 2.) Attach the guitar case to your handle bars by putting the handle bars through the handle on your case. Make sure the case is all the way to the stem.
Step 3.) Ride home.
Step 4.) Good luck.

To accomplish this successfully, you must be a balanced rider, think this is a funny/good idea in the first place, and be bored enough to write a blog entry of it. Case and point.

A Bicycles Return And A First Tattoo 5.November.2008

I’m so happy! I can ride again, build my bike up to how I want it, and I finally got my first tattoo!

Good times!
Happy times!

I Have My Bike Back! 27.October.2008

I am the happiest kid ever

And now…

back to the adventures.

On another note, CETMAracks, a company from Eugene, OR that creates amazing front bike racks (of which I hope to get one very soon), had a post on their site to submit local bike shops that should carry their products. I quickly sent an email to Lane the owner with Eddies Bikes and FreezeThaw Bicycles. I just checked out his site today to finalize my project parts list and saw that he posted all of the suggestions he’s gotten so far and has contacted the shops! I’m excited, now I don’t have to wait as long for one!

p.s. Sorry if none of that made any sense, I’m tired. It happens.

Rawland Bicycles 3.October.2008

So while checking out the latest at Urban Velo, I happened to come across their article on Rawland Cycles. Upon looking at their site and reading their information about their company as well as their bikes, I became very interested in trying out a bike. I emailed the company after finding that they mostly sell just framesets of their bikes but a complete bike can be purchased as well. I was really suprised and impressed by the very fast reply from them with all of the information requested from me. I cannot wait to purchase and try one of their bikes. Having a brand new custom bike would be great!

Anyway, check out their site and see it all for yourself: www.rawlandcycles.com

To Be Continued…

I Hate Walking… 19.September.2008

…especially since I really got into biking. I crashed the other day and it royally messed up BOTH of my wheels which sucks because since I don’t have the time to fix my bike since I work a lot of the time (and I don’t want to take it to a bike shop and spend money to fix it…), I had to walk to work. I never noticed how much I hate walking until I had no bike. I need to fix it a.s.a.p. so I can actually get to work on time again (haha!).

Ok that’s enough ranting for now. Just thought I’d share for the people who actually read this thing and have been wondering where I’ve been.

For those of you tech geeks out there…
I just got an iPhone and found a good bit of apps that can be really fun on a bike. The latest app I found is called TrailGuru and it acts pretty much like a bike computer with being your odometer, speedometer, clock, distance, pretty much everything a bike computer does. If you have iTunes, you should check it out!

Anyway, have a good one!