***Programming Alert***
Over the next few weeks I’m going to be posting my top five favorite rides in and around NYC.
Please resume your normal daily activities.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Bullying NYC Traffic
Unlike most NYC cyclists, I love riding my bike in the city. It's a true adventure and definitely more art than science. The biggest mistake most people make is that they are too timid when they ride in the city -- it's much better to be assertive than passive. Most vehicles respect aggression, even from a bike.
There are exceptions to the rule though. Buses and cabs are the alpha males on the streets of NYC. Buses are to be feared and respected. I never mess with a bus because a bus can phuck you up good. Riding next to a bus is like swimming next to a whale. When the bus turns, it creates a huge tide of movement and you can get whacked out of nowhere. Repeat, I steer clear of buses.
Taxis on the other hand...well, there's a lot of friction between cyclists and cabdrivers in the city. They are trying to make a living and we are an inconvenience. Unlike buses, I will pretty much take on a cab at anytime in terms of road positioning. I'm pretty much on code red/high alert at all times. If a cab disrespects my rights as a cyclist, I will make sure he pays the price. Taxis are like children -- they are always pushing their boundaries and they need to be disiplined. While some of the things cabdrivers do are grey area and up for individual interpretation, there is one pervasive annoyance I won't tolerate. When a taxi sees a fare on a crowded street, he will dart across three lanes at full speed and stop short at a 45 degree angle cutting off the bike lane. This is so dangerous for everyone on the road, including cars and pedestrians. When a cab does this to me I go around the drivers side and pound the living shit out of his back door. I've probably given a half dozen dents so far this season. I will also jawbone the living sh*t out of him. I consider this preventative medicine as hopefully next time he'll think twice about trading a $10 fare for a $500 dent in his cab.
There are exceptions to the rule though. Buses and cabs are the alpha males on the streets of NYC. Buses are to be feared and respected. I never mess with a bus because a bus can phuck you up good. Riding next to a bus is like swimming next to a whale. When the bus turns, it creates a huge tide of movement and you can get whacked out of nowhere. Repeat, I steer clear of buses.
Taxis on the other hand...well, there's a lot of friction between cyclists and cabdrivers in the city. They are trying to make a living and we are an inconvenience. Unlike buses, I will pretty much take on a cab at anytime in terms of road positioning. I'm pretty much on code red/high alert at all times. If a cab disrespects my rights as a cyclist, I will make sure he pays the price. Taxis are like children -- they are always pushing their boundaries and they need to be disiplined. While some of the things cabdrivers do are grey area and up for individual interpretation, there is one pervasive annoyance I won't tolerate. When a taxi sees a fare on a crowded street, he will dart across three lanes at full speed and stop short at a 45 degree angle cutting off the bike lane. This is so dangerous for everyone on the road, including cars and pedestrians. When a cab does this to me I go around the drivers side and pound the living shit out of his back door. I've probably given a half dozen dents so far this season. I will also jawbone the living sh*t out of him. I consider this preventative medicine as hopefully next time he'll think twice about trading a $10 fare for a $500 dent in his cab.
Class One Review: Two Wrenches Up
The first maintenance class started pretty slow and didn’t hold much promise. It was raining all day so only 5 of the 8 participants showed and only one brought their own bike. This guy Oz brought his brand spanking new Cervelo C3 CSC tricked out with Dura Ace components and Mavic SSC SL wheels -- FirSSt would have loved it. (PS, if you tried to picture what an Oz would look like you’d be 180 degrees off – this guy was 60 years old, milkbred and no streetsmarts).
The class takes place after hours in the back of Bicycle Habitat, a bike shop in the village. We all pulled up stools around the bike stand where the Cervelo was perched and our teacher/mechanic, Eric, asked everyone their level of knowledge in bike mechanics. Everyone but me said they basically knew nothing. Ugghhhh – I’m thinking this may be even more painful than I was preparing myself. “Anyone ever change a flat?” Eric asks. Everyone shakes their head no. Oh man, bring on the pain. Noone has changed a flat here? Have you RIDDEN a bike before, I thought to myself?
After the flat changing exercise things started to crank up. Eric started wheeling through the bike components explaining how to fine tune derailleurs, set brakes properly, lube the chain, etc…Some of it was very basic but altogether it was hugely informative. I always have problems getting my brake centered over my wheel and now I know how to fix it myself. That piece of info alone was worth the two hours. We also got to ask questions freeform and Eric explained that we will be building a customer’s bike from scratch during one session. AWESOME. He encouraged us to bring in our bikes so we can fine-tune them as part of the class. Additionally, he’s going to fit us to our bikes at the end (a second opinion to Wobblenaught can’t hurt). We’re also going to tackle wheel truing as well.
I’m pretty pumped for this class now. I was going to bring my bike this week but the rain prevented me. I think next week I’ll be bringing it rain or shine because the benefit is huge.
I also predict a stint as a bike mechanic in my future. I love the whole setup back there – the badass bike stands, the classic rock humming over the speakers, miles of tools and a tool chest for each mechanic. I ask Eric which tools he likes. He looks at me funny…”Park of course – why would you buy anything other than a company that stakes its reputation on making tools?” Dumb question I guess. I look forward to asking more of them next week.
The class takes place after hours in the back of Bicycle Habitat, a bike shop in the village. We all pulled up stools around the bike stand where the Cervelo was perched and our teacher/mechanic, Eric, asked everyone their level of knowledge in bike mechanics. Everyone but me said they basically knew nothing. Ugghhhh – I’m thinking this may be even more painful than I was preparing myself. “Anyone ever change a flat?” Eric asks. Everyone shakes their head no. Oh man, bring on the pain. Noone has changed a flat here? Have you RIDDEN a bike before, I thought to myself?
After the flat changing exercise things started to crank up. Eric started wheeling through the bike components explaining how to fine tune derailleurs, set brakes properly, lube the chain, etc…Some of it was very basic but altogether it was hugely informative. I always have problems getting my brake centered over my wheel and now I know how to fix it myself. That piece of info alone was worth the two hours. We also got to ask questions freeform and Eric explained that we will be building a customer’s bike from scratch during one session. AWESOME. He encouraged us to bring in our bikes so we can fine-tune them as part of the class. Additionally, he’s going to fit us to our bikes at the end (a second opinion to Wobblenaught can’t hurt). We’re also going to tackle wheel truing as well.
I’m pretty pumped for this class now. I was going to bring my bike this week but the rain prevented me. I think next week I’ll be bringing it rain or shine because the benefit is huge.
I also predict a stint as a bike mechanic in my future. I love the whole setup back there – the badass bike stands, the classic rock humming over the speakers, miles of tools and a tool chest for each mechanic. I ask Eric which tools he likes. He looks at me funny…”Park of course – why would you buy anything other than a company that stakes its reputation on making tools?” Dumb question I guess. I look forward to asking more of them next week.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Maintaining Some Balance
You can never have too much balance in your life (who’s writing this blog, Yogi Berra?). About two weeks ago I realized that I was spending too much time thinking about the stock market and economics. Every night I would come home and watch three hours of CNBC after work – no wonder I was tossing and turning at night with so many opinions running in my head. So I made a rule that I can’t watch or read anything about economics or the stock market during non-work hours. Man has it helped my peace of mind.
One outlet for my increased free time will be to improve my bicycling maintenance skills. I’ve signed up for a 6-week class at a local shop here in NYC and tonight is the first meeting. Here’s how the schedule shakes out:
Week one - Introduction to the course. This class focuses on tires and tubes, the relationship between comfort/speed/flats in selecting tires. Hands on: fixing a flat. Troubling shooting the causes of flats.
Week two - The different types of brakes are covered. Hands on: Brake cable and brake pad replacement and adjustments, and lubricating key brakes parts. Trouble shooting brake problems from squeals to poor braking.
Week three - Introduction to shifters, front and rear deraileurs. Hands on: Cable replacement and gear adjustments and lubricating key gear parts. Trouble shooting gear sounds and worn cogs, chainrings and pulleys.
Week four - Introduction to Bottom brackets. Hands on: overhaul and adjustment of the bearings Trouble shooting shot bearings and poor adjustment
Week five - Introduction to hubs. Exploration of front hubs, rear hubs and the types available. Hands On: Replacing and adjusting hub bearings. Trouble shooting loose or tight hubs.
Week six - A chance to ask questions not covered, review problem area and discuss properly sizing and fitting you to your bicycle.
The course may be a bit basic overall for me but I’m sure I’ll pick up some interesting info. I’ll report back on tonight’s class later in the week.
One outlet for my increased free time will be to improve my bicycling maintenance skills. I’ve signed up for a 6-week class at a local shop here in NYC and tonight is the first meeting. Here’s how the schedule shakes out:
Week one - Introduction to the course. This class focuses on tires and tubes, the relationship between comfort/speed/flats in selecting tires. Hands on: fixing a flat. Troubling shooting the causes of flats.
Week two - The different types of brakes are covered. Hands on: Brake cable and brake pad replacement and adjustments, and lubricating key brakes parts. Trouble shooting brake problems from squeals to poor braking.
Week three - Introduction to shifters, front and rear deraileurs. Hands on: Cable replacement and gear adjustments and lubricating key gear parts. Trouble shooting gear sounds and worn cogs, chainrings and pulleys.
Week four - Introduction to Bottom brackets. Hands on: overhaul and adjustment of the bearings Trouble shooting shot bearings and poor adjustment
Week five - Introduction to hubs. Exploration of front hubs, rear hubs and the types available. Hands On: Replacing and adjusting hub bearings. Trouble shooting loose or tight hubs.
Week six - A chance to ask questions not covered, review problem area and discuss properly sizing and fitting you to your bicycle.
The course may be a bit basic overall for me but I’m sure I’ll pick up some interesting info. I’ll report back on tonight’s class later in the week.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
A Record Week
I crushed it on the bike this week, cranking out 170 miles. My legs are feeling it though. Outside of Italy, this is the most amount of mileage I've ever pumped out in a week -- surprassing the 145 miles I did the first week of July last year.
Yesterday was the highlight of the week. I rode 70 miles with my training group and we were blazing. We got done in under 5 hours, including two rest stops for food and slower mileage in and out of NYC. We were blasting out 22-23 mph on the flats for a good part of the ride. I was dead tired yesterday though.
Today I went for a recovery ride into NJ to one of my favorite bagel shops -- Ronnie's Bagels in Northvale. It's 40 miles round trip -- I tell people I go there to get my Sunday bagel. I wore new bib shorts which were a bit too small so the padding (chamois) was in the wrong place and I felt uncomfortable all ride. Wow did I learn my lesson on picking the right cycling shorts. This is one area I'm no longer skimping on. Only the best from now on. In fact, I got a pair of Assos winter knicker hand-me-downs from a buddy two weeks ago. I rode them last weekend and was in awe with how good the padding felt. I'm trying to muster up the strength to pay $200 for cycling bib shorts as we speak. It's a tough hill to climb.
Ride on.
Yesterday was the highlight of the week. I rode 70 miles with my training group and we were blazing. We got done in under 5 hours, including two rest stops for food and slower mileage in and out of NYC. We were blasting out 22-23 mph on the flats for a good part of the ride. I was dead tired yesterday though.
Today I went for a recovery ride into NJ to one of my favorite bagel shops -- Ronnie's Bagels in Northvale. It's 40 miles round trip -- I tell people I go there to get my Sunday bagel. I wore new bib shorts which were a bit too small so the padding (chamois) was in the wrong place and I felt uncomfortable all ride. Wow did I learn my lesson on picking the right cycling shorts. This is one area I'm no longer skimping on. Only the best from now on. In fact, I got a pair of Assos winter knicker hand-me-downs from a buddy two weeks ago. I rode them last weekend and was in awe with how good the padding felt. I'm trying to muster up the strength to pay $200 for cycling bib shorts as we speak. It's a tough hill to climb.
Ride on.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Repeat After Me
Hill repeats put hair on a cyclist's chest and should be a staple of any respectable riding diet. In case you are not familiar with hill repeats, here's how they work:
1) find a long, fairly consistently sloping hill.
2) ride up said hill.
3) turn around and ride back down said hill.
4) repeat steps 2 and 3 until you can't feel your thighs.
5) ride home gingerly.
In the words of John Cougar Melloncamp, it hurts so good. The first time you do hill repeats you can't imagine ever doing them again. But when you start blowing away your fellow group riders on hills, it becomes strangely addicting. Almost like taking a legal form of steroids and only you have the secret potion.
After six weeks on the bike, I'm starting to hit my groove and I'm feeling great. So now I'm mixing in hill repeats and I'm loving it. Bring on the pain.
1) find a long, fairly consistently sloping hill.
2) ride up said hill.
3) turn around and ride back down said hill.
4) repeat steps 2 and 3 until you can't feel your thighs.
5) ride home gingerly.
In the words of John Cougar Melloncamp, it hurts so good. The first time you do hill repeats you can't imagine ever doing them again. But when you start blowing away your fellow group riders on hills, it becomes strangely addicting. Almost like taking a legal form of steroids and only you have the secret potion.
After six weeks on the bike, I'm starting to hit my groove and I'm feeling great. So now I'm mixing in hill repeats and I'm loving it. Bring on the pain.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Human Footprint
National Geographic Channel is broadcasting a show tonight called Human Footprint, which highlights the quantity of the world's resources each American consumes. I've been anxiously waiting for it to air ever since I heard about it earlier this week. I'll report back with interesting tidbits.
Friday, April 11, 2008
A Craning Skyline (Abatements Gone Wild)
The NYC real estate market is in for a rough ride. The Manhattan skyline is one big row of cranes. Call it Murphy's law or just sheeple being sheeple, but there's a ton of supply coming online at exactly the worst possible time. It's much cheaper to rent than own -- and it has been for a while. With confidence waning, most will be waking up to this reality (sheeple have been denying it for years to justify their purchases).
New developments on face look reasonable compared to renting bc the taxes are so low from tax abatements. But noone reads the fineprint to see how much the taxes will be jumping up in 10 years when the abatements expire because they expected to be flipping. Well now they'll just be flipping out.
Here's a quick sketch on how much cheaper it is to rent than own using midtown west as the example:
Purchase price for 700 sq foot apt @ ~$1,200 sq. foot: $850k
Money Down: $170k
Mortgage: $680k
Monthly Mortgage Payment @ 7%: 4,500 or $2,700 tax effected @ 40% tax rate
Maintenance: $1,100 or $880 tax effected @ 40% tax rate assuming 50% of maintenance is tax deductible..
Opportunity cost of $170k downpayment: $700 of tax-free interest a month invested in a 30-year muni bond @ 5% coupon.
Total monthly tax-effected ownership cost: $4,280
Rent for 700 sq foot apt: $3,400
So it costs you over $800 more a month to own than rent and that doesn't take into consideration upfront and backend closing costs, which would probably run about 10%of the apt price or $84k in this case. If you plan on living in the apt for 5 years; however, you would have paid down principal by $41k and thus, assuming no appreciation, the net costs would be $43k or $8k per year or $666 a month.
Clearly, in order to justify purchasing at today's prices you have to be assuming there will be some nice price appreciation since the renting proposition is much more economical.
In other words, look out below.
New developments on face look reasonable compared to renting bc the taxes are so low from tax abatements. But noone reads the fineprint to see how much the taxes will be jumping up in 10 years when the abatements expire because they expected to be flipping. Well now they'll just be flipping out.
Here's a quick sketch on how much cheaper it is to rent than own using midtown west as the example:
Purchase price for 700 sq foot apt @ ~$1,200 sq. foot: $850k
Money Down: $170k
Mortgage: $680k
Monthly Mortgage Payment @ 7%: 4,500 or $2,700 tax effected @ 40% tax rate
Maintenance: $1,100 or $880 tax effected @ 40% tax rate assuming 50% of maintenance is tax deductible..
Opportunity cost of $170k downpayment: $700 of tax-free interest a month invested in a 30-year muni bond @ 5% coupon.
Total monthly tax-effected ownership cost: $4,280
Rent for 700 sq foot apt: $3,400
So it costs you over $800 more a month to own than rent and that doesn't take into consideration upfront and backend closing costs, which would probably run about 10%of the apt price or $84k in this case. If you plan on living in the apt for 5 years; however, you would have paid down principal by $41k and thus, assuming no appreciation, the net costs would be $43k or $8k per year or $666 a month.
Clearly, in order to justify purchasing at today's prices you have to be assuming there will be some nice price appreciation since the renting proposition is much more economical.
In other words, look out below.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Anger Management
Jack Nicholson should have tried cycling.
Had one of those bad days today. Anxious, questioning abilities at work -- picking bad stocks at the worst possible times. My mind was twisting up like a pretzel. You know how it goes.
It didn't take a cookie to reverse my fortune though. Just three laps in Central Park on a 70 degree day.
After laboring through 40 degree rides for the first six weeks the cycling gods finally provided a reprieve. I felt like a hot knife ripping through butter. My buddy and I averaged 19mph for our 20 mile ride. We were pounding out the flats at 20-21mph.
This is why I ride.
Now it's off to Houstons to pound a few beers and who knows what else.
Had one of those bad days today. Anxious, questioning abilities at work -- picking bad stocks at the worst possible times. My mind was twisting up like a pretzel. You know how it goes.
It didn't take a cookie to reverse my fortune though. Just three laps in Central Park on a 70 degree day.
After laboring through 40 degree rides for the first six weeks the cycling gods finally provided a reprieve. I felt like a hot knife ripping through butter. My buddy and I averaged 19mph for our 20 mile ride. We were pounding out the flats at 20-21mph.
This is why I ride.
Now it's off to Houstons to pound a few beers and who knows what else.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Groundhog's Day
You guy(s) remember the Bill Murray classic Groundog's Day where's he caught in an endless loop of living the same day over and over again?
I feel like it's the story of my cycling season so far. Every day I've ridden it's been about 40 degrees and cloudy. I've put in almost 500 miles to date and I think the sun has been shining for less than 10 of them.
On Sunday I tried wishful thinking on my group ride and showed up in shorts (and foot covers -- a BAD fashion statement). Let me tell you, there's nothing worse than getting made fun of by cyclists. It's like a bunch of nerds making fun of you for being a nerd. Ahhh, the power of the sheeple.
I feel like it's the story of my cycling season so far. Every day I've ridden it's been about 40 degrees and cloudy. I've put in almost 500 miles to date and I think the sun has been shining for less than 10 of them.
On Sunday I tried wishful thinking on my group ride and showed up in shorts (and foot covers -- a BAD fashion statement). Let me tell you, there's nothing worse than getting made fun of by cyclists. It's like a bunch of nerds making fun of you for being a nerd. Ahhh, the power of the sheeple.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)