The Shredded Schrader

On my way to work each day, I often weave through the posts at the end of the bike trail at Alewife. Today was no different, I leaned right, I leaned left, I…. Slid sideways? My entire bike slipped from underneath me and slid sideways. Yet somehow, SOMEHOW, I didn’t spill.

I’m actually quite good at that. Abrupt stops, sharp turns, and last minute recoveries as the former two fail come natural. There are two reasons for this. The first is that I’m an absolute clumsy spaz and over the years have had to either adjust or…  get eaten by a lion. The second is that, in addition to falling over during daily activities, I seek out doing crazy stuff.  And one particular manifestation is… inner office riding.

It’s like mountain biking, but when you only have a road bike and an office place you can sneak into at night. It’s actually a lot of fun. Speeding around the parameter, avoiding late night employees, and navigating through cubicles. And, uh… slamming into a wall. But only once!!!

And that’s my life. Falling sideways, able to appreciate both up and down just if they were right and left. I couldn’t think of a better way to live.

Touched up old verses, tried to do the same for chorus, but it’s giving me trouble. Remember, cy-cling  and cy-clist. Once again, Battle Hym of The Republic FROM THE TOP!

When the union’s inspiration through the cyclist’s blood shall run,
There will be no power greater than our bikes beneath the sun;
Yet what force on earth is weaker than the lonely ride of one,
But the union makes us strong.

Solidarity through cycling,
Solidarity through cycling,
Solidarity through cycling,
For the union makes us strong

Is there aught we hold in common with the speedy parasite,
Who would run us off the freeway and would crush us in his flight?
Is there anything left to us but to organize and bike?
For the union makes us strong.

Solidarity through cycling,
Solidarity through cycling,
Solidarity through cycling,
For the union makes us strong

They are wasting untold barrels and never seem to learn,
That without a change of vision, their future will be burned
But we’ll free ourselves from oil, and claim what we have earned
For the union makes us strong.

Please help me out with more versus or a better chorus? So far it’s just a modified Solidarity Forever. I’d like to get more verses in there.

Yes, it’s that time of the Month again. The UCTW are having their first ride of the month. Keep an eye out for us on the road. There’s a couple new cyclies  riding with us, so I’m looking forward to it with a little more zeal than usual.

The next draft of Cyclist Solidarity is almost finished. I may post it after the ride, so keep an eye open for it… if you care.

Ride together, fellow cyclists!

So, Friday night I was tweaking out in my room (continuing progress on the whole losing my mind thing I’ve been working on lately) when I finally tipped the scale and needed to get out of the house. It seems that lately, any time I get anxious I simultaneously crave going for a ride. As it seems healthier than drinking or working, I’ve been humouring this new coping mechanism.  I jumped on my bike and started to ride… And, as expected, I soon began to unwind.

Navigating between cars in my work’s parking lot (without hands of course),  I suddenly noticed that my front tire was a little low on air. So I whipped out my pump… and let me tell you, nothing finishes a long relaxing ride like a flat front tire and a presta with the valve tip snapped off. I called a fellow cyclist to come bail me out.

After digging around for awhile, we located the snapped off piece. Then, in shorter time than it took us to find it, we lost it again. All I could say was… Hail Eris! We laughed, pulled crazy shit in the parking lot and retreated home laughing.

The irony that while my blog is called the Shredded Schrader, I ended up shredding my presta… only hits me now.

SNAFU and SNAFlUff!

I bring you a new periodical! Each week (or some other time unit), I will be reporting on the offenses of a speedy parasite.

For the first article, I already have one in mind. An employee of a certain towing company threatened a friend of mine both verbally and physically (started to run her off the road with his truck, with obvious intent). Name and employment information were collected and I will be sharing these in the spirit of complete disclosure… and action.

I will also be accepting submissions.

Remember, only on the road is yielding permissible.