Downtown Fixed Gear, RANTWICK Style

As some of you may know, my summer commuter (named Summer) is a fixed gear. Way back when I did a post about the unhip nature of its setup.

I had a nice ride in downtown traffic on that bike a few days ago. Upon reviewing the video, I realized I had now also made the antithesis of one of those exciting fixed gear films from places like New York.

Taking all the cool and/or hip out of a downtown fixed gear video is much easier than you might think: It is a simple matter of substitution!

When I went ahead and made the requisite substitutions, I got this:

I hope I am now firmly established as the most publicly lame fixed gear weirdo in North America. When I showed that video to the rest of the Rantwick clan, they just shook their heads. I don't blame them. I don't know why I do such things.

Yer Pal,

R A N T W I C K

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Logo from my friends in the cool new indie band called "Evil Peace" You should follow the link and check them out.

Cross Purposes

Much like this bike I saw recently, events in my life currently seem locked at cross purposes to any writing, posting, or even reading efforts. This is just a quick note to say that I hope to be back to regular posting again soon. I sold the Great Satan as planned and have been riding every work day, so I have lots of video I would like to work with as soon as I can find a little time.

Perhaps my man Mordecai can help me realign my work/life/blog balance. Until then, take care of your centres of kindness and know that I wish I was here more.

Yer Pal,

R A N T W I C K

Hey, City of London Department of Transportation Planning and Design! You ^%$**@n' Rock!

Remember how I wasn't too crazy about the signs at the Hale and Trafalgar roundabout? (that post here)

I sent email to several of the people who work in Transportation Planning and Design for the City right when I wrote that post on May 2nd.

I took the roundabout only two times since then, one of them being last Thursday morning. Look what I saw!

 

 

 

 

 

not the actual sign, but identical. pic source

 

I just wanted to thank whoever was kind enough to pay attention to my email and posts. 2 weeks? It got changed in 2 weeks? In municipal government terms, that is outstanding. It almost makes me wonder if I'm not the original cause of the sign change.

In any case, I'm really happy with my City's transportation planners right now. People in positions like theirs are often inundated with requests and general whinings about this and that, I'm sure. Some of us (myself included) are often quick to criticize and slow to praise... this post is about my being as quick to praise as I was to complain. Well done, City planners!

Yer Pal,

R A N T W I C K