Because I’ve had a bout of writer’s block, I am adopting the meme that seems to be cropping up on all of the cycling blogs I read:
Q. If you could have any one – and only one – bike in the world, what would it be?
A. A JP Weigle Randonneur frame (painted by Sacha White of Vanilla Cycles), equipped with a Brooks saddle, hub generator (LED lights), Nitto/Bruce Gordon racks, and Berthoud/Ortlieb bags.
Q. Do you already have that coveted dream bike? If so, is it everything you hoped it would be? If not, are you working toward getting it? If you’re not working toward getting it, why not?
A. No. My current bike is fine, but there are a few things I would improve upon. First, I’d like to be able to put on tires wider than 25C with fenders. And not hacked up fenders, either. Second, I’d like a 135mm dropouts, or at least a ‘tweener 132.5mm. Wheels and hubs are cheaper for some reason.
I have been too busy riding to shop for bikes again.
Q. If you had to choose one — and only one — bike route to do every day for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?
A. No. My commute would be mind numbingly boring if I didn’t alter the route slightly each time.
Q. What kind of sick person would force another person to ride one and only one bike ride to to do for the rest of her/his life?
A. The same one who invented the high-pitched whine of a dentist’s drill.
Q. Do you ride both road and mountain bikes? If both, which do you prefer and why? If only one or the other, why are you so narrowminded?
A. Short answer: I only have one bike. A road bike takes me places. Long answer: I am apparently Bad Karma when mountain biking: a couple of friends got serious injuries. I am cool to the idea of “true” mountain biking. I would certainly consider doing something more utilitarian like the Great Divide Route that Kent Peterson rode, except over a longer period of time. And with gears.
Q. Have you ever ridden a recumbent? If so, why? If not, describe the circumstances under which you would ride a recumbent?
A. Yes, I was ‘bent-curious and rented a Rans Stratus on my last business trip to Austin. I didn’t like the excessively long wheelbase because of the large turning circle (though maybe you’d get used to it), but I’d certainly consider owning a ‘bent if there was a convenient way to try a variety of models and find one that works. (The trike models are especially intriguing.) As it stands, it’s hard enough test-riding a standard bike.
Q. Have you ever raced a triathlon? If so, have you also ever tried strangling yourself with dental floss?
A. Inadvertently – I was out on a group ride when we stumbled into the bike course of one in Kirkland. It was surreal, but I held my own.
Q. Suppose you were forced to either give up ice cream or bicycles for the rest of your life. Which would you give up, and why?
A. Ice cream. Most ice cream available is made with high frutose corn syrup – I prefer the taste of cane sugar. I spend 400+ hours a year on a bike, 5 hours eating ice cream. You can do the math.
Q. What is a question you think this questionnaire should have asked, but has not? Also, answer it. What size of shoes do you wear?
A. Do you wear bike shorts because they’re comfortable or because you like showing off your biker legs? Yes.
I wear size 45s (approximately an US size 11).
Q. You’re riding your bike in the wilderness (if you’re a roadie, you’re on a road, but otherwise the surroundings are quite wilderness-like) and you see a bear. The bear sees you. What do you do?
A. African or European bear?
‘bent curious – ROTFL!