It's May 5, 2008 in San Francisco

In this issue:

• today's drawing
  
• four of seven Yelpers (57%) say "dick" in their negative reviews of my neighborhood bike shop
• today's bike ride to work
  
• The Wiggle

TODAY'S DRAWING


NOMAD CYCLERY
Last week, Nomad Cyclery gave my bike a much-needed tune up.

NUMBER OF YELP REVIEWS FOR NOMAD CYCLERY: 11
NUMBER OF REVIEWS THAT CONTAIN STRONG NEGATIVE REMARKS: 7
NUMBER OF REVIEWS THAT USE THE WORD "DICK" TO DESCRIBE THE STAFF: 4
WAS THE STAFF DICKY TO ME? SORT OF. As soon as I walked in the door, the much-Yelp-maligned "older guy" barked a string of complaints about the condition of my bike. No problem; I thought it was funny and endearing: the guy likes bikes and can't bear to see a dusty, neglected-looking one. The older guy's manner became less (and less) funny as he went on and on, repeating his complaints. Enough already. My turn to talk. Just please tell me what you can do, and help me understand what I need. $160 is the minimum? Are you sure? Hm. [...] Less money if you don't "dip the derailleur" and don't replace the chain (which you said is actually fine)? OK. Let's have you do everything but "dip the derailleur" and replace the chain, then. MEANWHILE: The younger staff guy said I might consider buying a new bike, and he walked over to a $479 bike and said, "This bike is very popular." But wait... I'm just here for a tune up. Is my bike worth tuning up? Yes, you say? OK, well, then let's get on with it. You guys are the only bike shop nearby that's open on Sundays for repairs. Let's get on with it. I have to call my wife first because this is going to cost more than I thought it would. Hang on. [...] "Consider how much you save by not owning a car," you say? Thanks.

TODAY'S BIKE RIDE TO WORK
Today I rode to work and back for the second time. Last Thursday was the first time, and boy did my butt hurt when I got home. That's the worst part of commuting on a bike: it hurts my butt (even though I have a gel cover on the seat). The morning after the first ride is—in my experience—€”the worst. Legs OK; raw butt on fire. I'm not as sore tonight—my second night—as I was the first night. My butt's becoming callous.

Here's a look at the path I took to work today. Including the accidental looping detour I took at the edge of the park, today's ride was about 5.7 miles and took me about 45 minutes. The ride home this evening was maybe 40 minutes.



THE WIGGLE
A couple weeks ago, Crude Futures alumnus (and San Fran denizen) Shower Feelings told me about "The Wiggle" — a zig-zaggy bike route through central San Francisco that keeps riders on more-or-less level ground—mercifully and almost magically—in an area of the city that is particularly hill-wealthy. (San Francisco is a hilly place anyway. Lots different than NYC in that respect.) Thanks to Shower Feelings, my butt hurts less than it might.

Comments

[Publicado por: aulden timmer]

I assume then that your second ride was on the "tuned up" bike, and that perhaps this also heightened the pleasurable experience.

[Publicado por: brian]

My bike was unrideable when I took it in for service two Sundays ago. Katie picked it up the following Tuesday and I rode it to & from work on Thursday. And now this week I've ridden it to & from work everyday. Today, for the first time, I got to work in under 30 minutes. That's about 20-25 minutes faster, door-to-door, than public transit.