A state of the Fleet 2020: Stasis, continued

Since I got the Schwinn Heavy Duti back from the shop, I've given some thought to all the bikes I have. Currently I have five bikes, listed in the order I got them: Raleigh Crested ButteSchwinn Heavy DutiBantam RambleneurRaleigh SuperbeRobin Hood Path Racer Five bikes. It's stayed the same amount since early 2018, when the...

Neighborhood photo walks: Trying to find motivation, trying to find my style. (My journey in film photography)

Shogren House Steps. 9 June 2020. Camera: Konica C35 EF. Film: Kentmere 400. I've taken quite a bit of film pics since I got the Minolta Hi-Matic 7s. I'm enjoying getting into film photography, and there's something about having an actual camera strapped 'round shoulder that compels shooting. Most of the pictures I've taken over...

An unexpected three speed: Heavy Duti 2.5

At the same time I dropped off the Raleigh Superbe's rear wheel at the shop, I also dropped off my long-neglected Schwinn Heavy Duti. The 2.0 version had a good run for about a year and a half, but needed work. I fully intended to drop it off in January, when the shop was slow....

Three Speed Tires in a Derailleur Era: Yet another search for 26″ x 1 3/8″

Society Of Three Speeds

Last month, I got a flat from glass as I was running errands. I intended to do the flat fix where I was, which was basically beside I-84. Amazingly, since I couldn’t hear anything but the roar of the freeway, I figured out where the puncture was, made sure the tire was clean, and put a new tube in. Then I realized the folly of trying to inflate the tire there, as I only had my Zefal “Lepize” pump. Yes, it looks pretty in a vintage way, and fits neatly into the pump pegs. But using it is a whole ‘nother thing. After ten minutes of pumping, I was barely halfway at inflation. Deflated, er, defeated, I called Emee and she picked me up in the Emeemobile.

At home I intended to pump the tire up fully and remount wheel. That’s when I noticed that there was a broken spoke…

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Fifteen years of the Urban Adventure League Blog

Self-Portrait, Mt. Tabor Park, 11 May 2020. Olympus XA2/Kodak Gold 200 Today marks a milestone: On June 17, 2005, I published my first blog post here. While the Urban Adventure League had already been in existence for a year, this date marked the beginning of the UAL on the web. I had already led several...

On Departing the East Coast in 2000

Today marks an anniversary. On this day in 2000, I boarded an Amtrak train and headed west. I left my home in Connecticut, the only place I really knew in my almost twenty-five years on the planet (minus one weird year in North Carolina.) I was leaving behind a life I knew. Ahead was thrilling...

Privilege

I'm a white, straight male, living in America. I've never had to think about racism in the way that it effects me, just in the way that it affects others. I've never had to feel that fear that people who are not white have to feel. While I can and will empathize with those who...