Samui Air Zound Cycling Horn

After well over a decade of riding almost everyday for leisure, racing and commuting I have finally broken down and bought my very first commuter geek item: A compressed air horn. And me say just say that I am digging it.

I was inspired after my recent trip to Central America. There everyone use their horns all the time, everywhere they can. At first this would lead to a may-lay of horns, but to my surprise the opposite was quite true. It turns out, as opposed to North America, most people actually use horns to communicate useful information rather than use it as a way to say "fuck you".

So I am back from Guatemala and kickin' it. Overall I had a total blast despite a couple interesting incidents (I finished my trip volenteering at a turtle reserve). Anyway I am trying to get caught up on the low down that is happening in Vancouver.

For all you bike culture freaks there are some big things comming down the pipeline for the end of september:

Bike love weekend + Velomutations

Bicycles rule! [album]

Well it was quite the rush to make it on time to this ride! (On time being a relative term.) Between the problems at work and last minute rushing around, I ended up having to hop the SkyTrain to downtown. Don't start, I realize I'm taking transit to a bike ride. So go figure I arrive at the Vancouver Art Gallery all of 20 minutes late...don't see a soul with a bike.

I roll on over to the hot dog stand and ask the guy which way the bikers went. Just as he starts to tell me this dude on a lime green mini (and I mean tiny!) bike goes flyin' by like a bat outta hell. Through the doplar effect I hear a faint "follow meeee!" Alrighty, away we go.

Well I now have been in Guatemala for a week and quite the week its been. So far I have climbed and overnighted on a Volcan Actatenango (3976 m or 13,041 ft), been on numerous tours in various city thanks to some contacts. Hiked around the lake district (Lago de Atitlán). Traveled on numerous chicken buses with another Canadian couple (one who is currently living here). But today takes the cake. Today, I had to fight off a swarm pick pockets in the Xela market.

If you are in the Minneapolis Minnesota area this Sept 5th, well then you should check out the Alley cat food drive

 

Well as I type this I am sitting in a cafe in Antigua Guatemala. 

I kinda ended up going on a whim and a tight buget and no knowledge of spanish.  In fact all the spanish I know I taught myself on the plane on the way out.

Now I have never personally met the infamous Big Johnny behind www.drunkcyclist.com/, but I have talked to him over email. I would share those conversations but I would have to put one of those "19 and over" signs on the site. Love him, hate him, whatever, he is one of the original bike bloggers, and he just had a run in that will all fear. Last week he was hit from behind by a sedan travelling something like 55 mph while he was riding in the bike lane in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Good news is Big Johnny is recovering, has recently been discharged and has apparently become the new bicycle spokesperson for bicycle safety with his multiple interviews on local television. Here is hoping you can get back on the bike soon!

druckcyclist.com

Well, last week I finally took the plunge. I actually booked my flight to Australia....now what?! There's a whole bunch of little details that I really don't know about, but I'm hoping someone who happens to read this will be able to help me out.

Basically, I decided to go to Oz by process of elimination. Option 1-->go back to school, veto that. Who wants to sit in a classroom and then go work to pay for tuition in my spare time? Option 2-->repeat this year by working and training. Hmmm, another 6 months of long training rides in the rain and cold? Not so appealing. Option 3-->Travel somewhere hot and sunny and ride all day long. Alright, I think we have a winner.

From: Adam
Subject: Hey dude, come to midnight mass

Yo, I met you outside of MEC and heard about your blog. I really dig it. Me and a bunch of other kids go on another ride thats kindof like critical mass, but its also kindof diffrent. Basically, we dont crawl at the speed of wood. Theres always a mix of styles and ability levels, but alot of people are fixie riders or aspiring roadies. You have mad skills. Wanna come bless us? Come to the midnight mass.

midnight-mass.blogspot.com

Hey... I do recall our conversation of a while back and the fun, funky, folk down at Momentum Magazine have mentioned your rides to me before, so yes I would love to bless your mess this coming thursday. Plus it will be good for me, so I can get my mind off the fact I totalled my race road bike this weekend in the Crit stage of the Fantastic Four Stage Race!

BikeFurniture.com

So a while back shrimphead (now out in Nelson BC) sent me a link to some really cool bike art furniture being produced at BikeFurniture.com. I have to admit, when I first saw the pieces, it totally blew me away.

I have always liked the idea of like recycling bike parts into various household items, but most outcomes I have seen have left me less than enthrawled. Mainly, because the final pieces often look dirty and junky (I am thinking as much about my own attempts as others).