This Area of interest Is Your Area of interest, This Area of interest Is My Area of interest – Bike Snob NYC
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In curating this weblog through the years, I’ve made frequent use of sure photos. These ultimately turned what in my day we used to name “inside jokes,” however what folks now name “memes.” There was the Lone Wolf:
There was the Time-Touring Retro-Fred from the Planet Tridork Bret:
There was Recumbabe:
And naturally there was Bibshorts Man:
Then in fact there was a ship known as the “Simply Kidding,” which I used once I needed to make it clear once I was actually simply kidding:
A few of these photos would usually pop up outdoors the context of the weblog, and typically this was certainly the entire level. The Time-Touring Retro-Fred from the Planet Tridork Bret, for instance, was a inventory picture, so that you’d discover him in all types of locations, and it was at all times a delight when a reader would alert me to yet one more manifestation. Certainly, he’d seem on all the pieces from journal covers:
To loaves of bread:
Within the case of the Lone Wolf, he was no inventory picture; he was the real article and a god amongst males, and infrequently I’d hear from individuals who had the great fortune to satisfy him:
As for Bib Shorts Man, he was the mannequin for the Wikipedia entry on bib shorts. So far as I can inform that is now not the case, and I need to say that whereas the brand new man seems to be fairly match, he’s utterly missing in character and allure:
However I do recall listening to from mates and/or household of Bib Brief Man at one level, and if I keep in mind proper they appeared to take pleasure in his appearances–or on the very least they by no means threatened to kill me.
As for Recumbabe, I do not know the place she got here from, and I don’t assume we’ll ever discover out.
Then there was the Simply Kidding, and its affable crew. The easy results of a G**gle picture seek for the phrase “Simply Kidding,” I need to confess I by no means gave them a lot thought outdoors of the context of this weblog, nor did I ever assume I or any of my readers would expertise an extra-blogular encounter with them. However simply this weekend a reader emailed me to inform me he’d noticed the great ship on the 5:35 mark of this video:
Right here’s a more in-depth look:
It delighted me to study that the Simply Kidding just isn’t solely nonetheless plying the seas, however is outwardly in high-quality fettle, with its hull utterly freed from barnacles and seaweed. Based mostly on the video, it sounds just like the Simply Kidding is moored in Newport Seashore, most likely simply steps from the frozen banana stand:
I confess that in some unspecified time in the future years in the past I observed that the unique hyperlink to the Simply Kidding had disappeared, which made me surprise if maybe the hosts questioned the place all this visitors was coming from, determined they didn’t prefer it, and took the picture down. If so, I do hope the homeowners of the Simply Kidding know that I meant no disrespect, and that my use of this picture is merely meant in the identical whimsical spirit during which they presumably named their boat. I prefer to assume that homeowners of the Simply Kidding are lengthy retired and dwelling their greatest lives, and that their jaunty wave is supposed to convey that they don’t give a fuck about something, however in the absolute best means.
I’d even go as far as to say that every of us desires of sooner or later discovering ourselves the captains of our personal private “Simply Kidding” and crusing off into the sundown. Perhaps it’s an precise boat, possibly it’s a apartment in a hotter clime, or possibly it’s only a very nice bike. Hey, in case your “Simply Kidding” is a garden chair, a kiddie pool, and a 12-pack of beer you then’ve arrived simply as certainly as they’ve. Regardless of the case, they’re Al Czervik sticking it to the Decide Smailses of the world…or no less than that’s what I select to imagine, anyway:
In the meantime, again on shore, the DOT wish to remind you that bicycles should not a distinct segment type of transportation:
I wholeheartedly agree–although I proceed to experience my singlespeed mountain bike, which is undeniably a distinct segment type of recreation:
As I famous not too long ago, a motorcycle like this may be of restricted utility in an city atmosphere–and but, once you’ve solely received an hour and need to get just a little journey in, there’s no higher bike for ducking into the closest swath of greenery and flitting about on some trails the place possibly you’re not “supposed” to journey, no less than strictly talking. And it may be fairly liberating to go out the door with only a bike and no matter’s in your pockets–although by some requirements I used to be woefully unprepared:
After all I notice that as an inveterate city-slicker I’ve the luxurious of not having to hold a lot of stuff. I additionally notice there are individuals who journey in way more forbidding environments, and who disappear for days at a time, removed from human contact. Subsequently, any commentary I make regarding what they could select to hold is akin to Ed Rooney telling Mozart his newest composition has too many notes. I imply, not solely do I journey safe within the data that within the occasion of an unrepairable mechanical I can at all times name an Uber, however I can’t even refill a single saddle bag! Nonetheless, this kinda feels just like the desert equal of the Minnesota Humblebrag:
I imply…paper clips, actually?
From time to time I’m driving on like a Wednesday afternoon or one thing and I see somebody on a garvel bike with about 300lbs of baggage on their bike. “The place might they probably be going at the moment of day?,” I ponder. Usually I attempt to give them the advantage of the doubt–maybe they’re heading out for a protracted bike tenting journey and so they had been late leaving Brooklyn. However might it’s the gravel development has gotten to the purpose the place persons are loading their bikes up with pour-over espresso makers and titanium sporks and paper clips and postage stamps sixteen totally different widths of strapping tape even for his or her afternoon rides, in the identical means that roadies now use $3,000 crabon race wheels simply to journey just a few simple laps within the park? Perhaps they learn stuff like this and get such large journey boners they pack all their bike instruments plus the contents of each their junk drawers and their drugs cupboards after which go journey up and down River highway. It might actually clarify the sudden proliferation of laden bikes with flared drop bars within the fast neighborhood of the town limits.
Once more, that’s not directed on the author particularly, who presumably lives and rides someplace the place winding up a sun-bleached skeleton is a really actual concern. Furthermore, I’ll freely admit I’m a “woosie,” and that my concept of “loaded touring” is sticking a beer and a washing swimsuit in a bag and driving to the seaside:
Someway I at all times wind up extra loaded for the return journey, go determine:
It’s essential to know your limits.
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