OK. After yesterday's rant, some Saturday Sillies are in order. (Can "sillies" be in order? Or is that an oxymoron?)
If your local bike shop also doubles as a headquarters for skateboarders--or simply has lots of adolescents hanging around in it--it probably sells low-rider bikes.
For years, low-rider enthusiasts have favored "twisted" parts.
On this bike, the handlebars, mirror holders, fender braces and banana-seat struts all look like mono-chromed candy canes. I have also seen pedals with twisted cages and cranks that look "twizzled."
Still, most of the frames looked like the ones found on Schwinn Sting-Rays and Raleigh Choppers that were popular in my childhood: They were constructed from traditional round steel tubes.
Just recently, I came across a twisted frame. However, it wasn't made for a lowrider: It seems to have 700C wheels and conventional road/city bike components:
I have no idea of how such a bike would ride or how long it would last.
On another note, I'm going to offer you an insight that very few other bloggers or cyclists--or, indeed, very of any kind of person--could give you. But don't worry: It still has to do with weird bikes.
One of the first things I noticed upon venturing out into the world as Justine is that--as I heard so many women complain--the lines to women's bathrooms are indeed longer than those for men. This is especially true at the end of a showing or performance, or during intermissions.
However, I have found one exception to this rule: organized bike rides. I have been on a few--including two Five Boro Bike Tours--since I began my transition. Even events like 5BBT, which attract large numbers of families and more women than most bike rides, are ridden by far more male than female cyclists. So, as you have guessed, the women's lines at rest stops are shorter than those for men.
Any guy (or gal, for that matter) who simply can't endure the wait might want to consider this:
If your local bike shop also doubles as a headquarters for skateboarders--or simply has lots of adolescents hanging around in it--it probably sells low-rider bikes.
For years, low-rider enthusiasts have favored "twisted" parts.
On this bike, the handlebars, mirror holders, fender braces and banana-seat struts all look like mono-chromed candy canes. I have also seen pedals with twisted cages and cranks that look "twizzled."
Still, most of the frames looked like the ones found on Schwinn Sting-Rays and Raleigh Choppers that were popular in my childhood: They were constructed from traditional round steel tubes.
Just recently, I came across a twisted frame. However, it wasn't made for a lowrider: It seems to have 700C wheels and conventional road/city bike components:
 |
| From Zedomax.com |
I have no idea of how such a bike would ride or how long it would last.
On another note, I'm going to offer you an insight that very few other bloggers or cyclists--or, indeed, very of any kind of person--could give you. But don't worry: It still has to do with weird bikes.
One of the first things I noticed upon venturing out into the world as Justine is that--as I heard so many women complain--the lines to women's bathrooms are indeed longer than those for men. This is especially true at the end of a showing or performance, or during intermissions.
However, I have found one exception to this rule: organized bike rides. I have been on a few--including two Five Boro Bike Tours--since I began my transition. Even events like 5BBT, which attract large numbers of families and more women than most bike rides, are ridden by far more male than female cyclists. So, as you have guessed, the women's lines at rest stops are shorter than those for men.
Any guy (or gal, for that matter) who simply can't endure the wait might want to consider this:
 |
| From Jeremy Gadd |
