scobleism.

Rebecca Rusch is out of this world, just read what happen to her during the Kokopelli Trail (of which she smash the record);

I just hit a rut at high speed and took a nasty, unexpected crash. My first thought was, “Is the bike ok?” Next, I felt my left index finger in the wrong place. Without thinking I put it back in place, flexed it to see if I could still operate the brake, and hopped back on.

I had to ride by moonlight on the most technical section of course for two and a half hours. That cost me lots of time and it was super dangerous, but it would have been impossible to continue without the moon to give me some visibility.

Full article here, I always look up to people like her, especially in these world where women are considered inferior to men (in term of strength and intellectual).

Fat and Furious, a man after my own heart;

We hadn’t expected much, to be honest. Beastley informed us that he’d just departed a harsh winter in his native land, the Yukon Territory. He’d hopped a series of freight trains to complete the 3,100-mile journey. His $200 fat bike was fresh off a Walmart showroom floor. We collectively let out some nervous laughter, unsure whether this wild-eyed gentleman was delusional or some kind of offbeat comedian. The laughter immediately ceased the moment we saw Beastley ride.

Read more here with pictures.

Oak Cycles 650B Randonneur Project

This is Ryan’s (of Oak) first randonneur frame and I got to says for a fairly new framebuilder, it’s very impressive, it should be because it’s mine.

Right now I have mixed feeling because my dream bike have been made, end of the road, no more fantasy, it’s all here.

It’ll be in Bespoked Bristol this weekend (the British equative of the NAHBS), and I hope it get the attention it deserve.

I can’t wait to ride it.

I love this photo, an old lady look very comfortable on her old trusty bicycle.

DNF

Three letters, in capitals stand for “Did Not Finish” have a profound effect on me

The idea of not completing a ride due to inane issue such as mechanical, health, or just severe weather bother me so much that I occasional feel horribly desolated, unable to face anyone even thought they have little concern about a simple “bike ride”, it’s the only thing I find myself from being out of control and were able to forget everything that’s happening and just concentrate on getting to the next controller.

I have to DNS (Did Not Start) The Dean 300k because of the severe weather warning of low temperature and heavy snow/rain, looking out of the window in London I kept telling myself I made the right choice but somehow I kept doubting it.

The next one is the 3Down 300k in a couple weeks time, I better have to make that one.

The Cannondale

Since my custom 650B Randonneur bicycle is about to be done, I can finally get rid of the heavy steel CX bicycle that I’ve changed into a semi-decent audax bicycle for a lightweight aluminium road bicycle; the Cannondale CAAD8.

I’m hoping that my theory of riding a heavy and uninspiring bicycle for almost a year and have done various audax ride that made it feel like I’m quite unfit being incapable of keeping up with the road trains* will be enough to make me feel a lots faster on a decent lightweight road bicycle (with fat 28c tyres of course).

I hope I won’t get a rude awaking next week.

*group of club rider, my name for them

What Do You Think About While Cycling

“that looks nice”, “I’m hungry”, “look at that”, “I’m thirsty”, “not seen anything like that for a while”, “I need to shift position”, “it’s so quiet”, “here comes a bend”, “I’ve not seen a car for over half an hour”, “mmm, banana flavour”, “engage my glutes”, “the trees have changed”, “I’m going to write another book”, “I’m hungry”, “hello, other cyclist”, “what will I eat when I get home”, “I’ll go fast for a bit”, “what the fuck is life about anyway”, “I’m hungry and thirsty”, “fuck off, cunt”, “wow, look at that”, “I love cycling”, “I hate cycling”, “something about the human condition”.

- Scarlett Parker

Lil’ Buddy