The above and below photographs are of my fendered single speed Redline 9 2 5. This is my backup bike so I can get around when I break a spoke on my other bike, and the one I crash... er, ride on in stormy weather. There is a red side and a white side. Both colors are made by applying reflective tape. Remember, it is area that is important!
The bridges above are two of the three on Novy Road. It is both scenic and charming but poorly surfaced. The third bridge is quite similar to these two.
Below is my road bike. It is a 2007 Giant OCR C zero carbon fiber full Dura Ace equipped 30 speed. I have 10,100 miles on it and I am swiftly closing in on fifty cents a mile cost! I keep lead weights in the seat bag just to keep it from floating away. I rarely lock it, preferring to take it with me into restaurants and stores.
The "white accents" on the forks and stays is reflective SOLAS tape. The water bottle is one third filled with custom dog repellent.
Since it has come to my attention that I may have slandered the Ellis County road maintenance department, I am posting some photos of other roads in my area. Above is Central High Road, showing it's charming bridge and then a shot looking away from the bridge.
Below is FM 879. FM stands for Farm to Market. It indicates it has met certain design standards and can support heavy truck traffic. If I am in error about this, I am sure PM will set me straight and I will announce the correction. Behind the camera it is 35 MPH and the pictured part has just changed to 55 MPH.
This is more of FM 879. Rolling hills, very rough chip-seal surface, with the worst area between the two tire tracks. Between here and the far-off distance there are three dogs spaced out along there who like to run with me when I come by.
Below is North Main. This road collects all the bike riders between Palmer and Ennis. It is lightly traveled because I-45 is about a mile to the east and running parallel. The surface is smooth, but there are a few sections that have a lot of damage. Two railroad spurs come off the rail line to the left of the photo, that cross North Main at a bad angle. Both these factors cause me to avoid this road at night and in the rain.
Good thing I've got a good imagination. This is NOT an "Ego Blog" post, it leads to better understanding of where ChipSeal's frame of reference originates.
ReplyDeleteThink of it sort of like "Ginger's" for PM Summer.
Aww heck. I got rushed out of here and Picasa fooled me into thinking it was good by drawing from my computer rather than the web. I am glad there is not much traffic to my site!
ReplyDeleteNice views. Somehow, seeing the pics of where people ride is always interesting.
ReplyDeleteNow wait just a minute, big boy. There's a wealth of info we want to hear just from a first perusal of these photo gems. Spread the posts out over time.
ReplyDeleteA partial sampling: I've never seen a Planet Bike Superflash with a black body before. Custom? And which Cateye headlight is that? And details, please on the choice of that bag versus the racks that Doohickie favors. And the story behind chosing a triple chainwheel on that Giant instead of a double. And, when thirsty, has ChipSeal ever had an "accident" and drunk the dog repellent absent mindedly. And just how slick IS that wooden bridge when it gets wet. And, you get the idea.
BTW, my compliments to the Ellis County road guys if these are representative of typical roads. It's good to see they haven't gone totally "ga ga" over double yellow lines as have their Tarrant County counterparts.
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ReplyDeleteSteve, Steve, Steve. (ChipSeal shakes his head.)
ReplyDeleteThis is not a contest to produce the most blog entries! It should be about good quality content, like that found at Commute Orlando or Cycle SMART Dallas. (ChipSeal would have included Rantwick, but come on- a CAPTCHA contest? Racing dwarfs in flip-flops? Sock carpets? It makes me long for photos of his butt again!)
Let me knock off two of them now.
"I've never seen a Planet Bike Superflash with a black body before. Custom?"
Sharp eyes there dude! I can answer that with one word: Sharpie!
"When thirsty, has ChipSeal ever had an "accident" and drunk the dog repellent absent mindedly"
No. In practice, I doubt I could get it to my lips without noticing. I have, in the heat of the moment, and while switching hands, had a few droplets of ammonia strike my face. I am a lot more cautious now. Go ahead, open a bottle of ammonia and sniff.
The rest I am thinking of using for a post over at Beginning Bicycle Commuting, about what I carry around and why I chose the equipment I do for transportational cycling.
I agree with both Doohickie and Steve A this is not an EGO blog... it is somehow cool to see some of the details about people's rides and roads.
ReplyDeleteNow, as to your criticisms of my content: I am discouraged to find that your definition of quality content does not include contests or little people.
Lastly, I am seriously disturbed that anyone, man, woman or ChipSeal, could possibly long for any more pictures of my butt.
"Now, as to your criticisms of my content: I am discouraged to find that your definition of quality content does not include contests or little people." -Rantwick
ReplyDeleteI am alarmed by this statement, dear Rantwick. I fear that my attempt at humor has been taken seriously. I hope you would see the jab as friendly teasing.
I have really enjoyed all of your posts! In my defense, I have highlighted only ten blogs on my blog page, and you are in no danger of being removed. (Nor is anyone else!)
I hold you and your blog in highest regard, and I apologize if I have in any way hurt you.
No hurt. I was trying to be funny, and the written word let me down. You were joking, and I knew it, so no sweat.
ReplyDeleteIf I seemed a little too serious there, it is I who should be sorry!
Whew! Perhaps it is language thing, you being a foreigner and all!
ReplyDeleteI shall sleep sound tonight, rather than if I had upset you- then I would've slept like a baby. (Waking up every two hours crying!)
I exaggerate so I can add that lame joke!