Entry 4 - the 1st lesson
As with all of Bud’s bikes, Bud learns from the experience. A fixed gear bike is not driven. It either rides you or you ride with it. You must become one with the bike and remain completely focused of the interaction. It’s a relationship that requires joint attention, a partnership. Once achieved, a zen-like flow is created. Two become one. The bamboo bike aspires for Bud to take new adventures never experienced before. Bud has visions of getting a free wheel for the rear and taking his bamboo lover on trails. Maybe one day, bud will put those slicks back, add some clipless pedals, and do a group road ride. Hell, he might grow some cahones and find a velodrome for a completely new experience!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Ride
Entry 3 - the ride
Since the fixed gear is a new experience. Bud added some sweet Yin Yang flat pedals to increase the learning curve of his new experience and add a little confidence.
After about 10 rides Bud should be able to share some of his observations. Bud has now ridden the bike about 3 rides to and from spin class, a couple of rides in the neighborhood to run errands, 3 or 4 beach cruises, an urban ride, a killer crash, and an all out 1 hour effort through varied terrain in his super hero tights.
Why so many rides? It’s difficult for Bud to gauge the bike as a whole since the fixed gear single speed experience is totally new to him. However, Bud can certainly provide valuable frame integrity output at this point.
First words that come to mind or should he say sounds? Quiet, noiseless, a mechanical zen come to mind. Every time a noise has occurred, which is rare, it was mechanical error, aka Bud Baker skill-less mechanical prowess as the culprit.
Bud’s initial concerns before riding the bike would have been the geometry, balance, and alignment of an imperfect material of non man made origin. Bud envisioned riding in non intentional circles, serpentine like patterns of his path left behind, or wobbles from flawed geometry. Not the case. The bike tracks perfectly. It has tight maneuverable handling with a feeling of crisp flowing exuberance. Oh yes, the CRASH! It occurred in a transition from light to dark while simultaneously going from pavement to dirt. He was going about 15 miles per hour and thought he saw a root. His instincts took over at that point. He stood up And locked his legs with feet parallel to flow over the root out of the saddle. OOOOOPS! It’s a fixed gear! Suddenly, wheels stopped rolling and bamboo bike started rolling. Bud tried to break the fall with his bad finger, bad wrist, aka club hand, bad shoulder, and face, but the frame still took quite a blow. Bud weighs about 185 pounds and was carrying about 20 pounds of backpack from spin class. Bud hurt physically for about a week from it. However, emotional scars remain. After careful review of the bike, the saddle and handlebar needed adjustment. Sweet cork grips required replacement. A flat tire needed repair. Since then he has added cyclocross tires to add confidence plus reduce flats on varied terrain. After some careful soul searching, and a few more rides, Bud can assure you the frame is entirely intact and as sturdy as any other frame he has owned.
Since the fixed gear is a new experience. Bud added some sweet Yin Yang flat pedals to increase the learning curve of his new experience and add a little confidence.
After about 10 rides Bud should be able to share some of his observations. Bud has now ridden the bike about 3 rides to and from spin class, a couple of rides in the neighborhood to run errands, 3 or 4 beach cruises, an urban ride, a killer crash, and an all out 1 hour effort through varied terrain in his super hero tights.
Why so many rides? It’s difficult for Bud to gauge the bike as a whole since the fixed gear single speed experience is totally new to him. However, Bud can certainly provide valuable frame integrity output at this point.
First words that come to mind or should he say sounds? Quiet, noiseless, a mechanical zen come to mind. Every time a noise has occurred, which is rare, it was mechanical error, aka Bud Baker skill-less mechanical prowess as the culprit.
Bud’s initial concerns before riding the bike would have been the geometry, balance, and alignment of an imperfect material of non man made origin. Bud envisioned riding in non intentional circles, serpentine like patterns of his path left behind, or wobbles from flawed geometry. Not the case. The bike tracks perfectly. It has tight maneuverable handling with a feeling of crisp flowing exuberance. Oh yes, the CRASH! It occurred in a transition from light to dark while simultaneously going from pavement to dirt. He was going about 15 miles per hour and thought he saw a root. His instincts took over at that point. He stood up And locked his legs with feet parallel to flow over the root out of the saddle. OOOOOPS! It’s a fixed gear! Suddenly, wheels stopped rolling and bamboo bike started rolling. Bud tried to break the fall with his bad finger, bad wrist, aka club hand, bad shoulder, and face, but the frame still took quite a blow. Bud weighs about 185 pounds and was carrying about 20 pounds of backpack from spin class. Bud hurt physically for about a week from it. However, emotional scars remain. After careful review of the bike, the saddle and handlebar needed adjustment. Sweet cork grips required replacement. A flat tire needed repair. Since then he has added cyclocross tires to add confidence plus reduce flats on varied terrain. After some careful soul searching, and a few more rides, Bud can assure you the frame is entirely intact and as sturdy as any other frame he has owned.
Why Bud Baker?
Entry 2 - Why Bud Baker?
Bud felt he was up to the challenge as a suitable subject to review what he found out later to be the prototype bike for the bamboosero project. Well Bud has owned Kona’s, Diamondback’s, GT’s, Ellsworth’s, Santa Cruz’s, Kestral’s, Bianchi’s, and Fetishes. He owned bike’s made from aluminum, Steel, and Carbon composites. Bud‘s built and or rebuilt at least a dozen bikes. He raced, although more like participated, in about a dozen races either mountain or cyclocross as well. Bud enjoys road, mountain, cyclocross, and simply cruising at the beach. Although, you wouldn’t think there's much to mountain bike on in Virginia Beach, good trails exist an hour away in Williamsburg and he owns a cabin in Canaan Valley, WV. Mucho knarlyness there. Bud also teaches 3 spin classes a week and also trains regular on an Xbike mountain bike simulator. Bud also dabbles in writing and loves surfing big waves on the internets. Rest assured, Bud Baker can’t ride worth a piss, but he certainly rides in style and he rides often. Bud is also a massage therapist and has a kind heart with holistic intentions. He appreciates the mission and message Craig Calfee is trying to accomplish.
Bud felt he was up to the challenge as a suitable subject to review what he found out later to be the prototype bike for the bamboosero project. Well Bud has owned Kona’s, Diamondback’s, GT’s, Ellsworth’s, Santa Cruz’s, Kestral’s, Bianchi’s, and Fetishes. He owned bike’s made from aluminum, Steel, and Carbon composites. Bud‘s built and or rebuilt at least a dozen bikes. He raced, although more like participated, in about a dozen races either mountain or cyclocross as well. Bud enjoys road, mountain, cyclocross, and simply cruising at the beach. Although, you wouldn’t think there's much to mountain bike on in Virginia Beach, good trails exist an hour away in Williamsburg and he owns a cabin in Canaan Valley, WV. Mucho knarlyness there. Bud also teaches 3 spin classes a week and also trains regular on an Xbike mountain bike simulator. Bud also dabbles in writing and loves surfing big waves on the internets. Rest assured, Bud Baker can’t ride worth a piss, but he certainly rides in style and he rides often. Bud is also a massage therapist and has a kind heart with holistic intentions. He appreciates the mission and message Craig Calfee is trying to accomplish.
The Beginning
Entry 1.- the beginning.
Bud Baker has had an interest in bamboo bike frames for a couple of years after hearing about Craig Calfee’s frame designs. After finding out about the 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show being held in Richmond, VA this year, he was super stoked about attending to see them for himself. Prior to the show, Bud started perusing Craig’s site to see what may be in store. He came across the Bamboosero website and was inspired by its mission. He became particular interested in the urban track bike shown on the site for sale. Bud Bakers currently has 7 bikes, but never a a single speed or fixed gear. To Bud Baker , riding a new bike is like having sex with a different women, both unique and crazy delicious.
Upon arrival at the show, Bud was flabbergasted to see the urban track bike at the show. After talking to Aaron then Craig Calfee, which both said they rode the bike and it was a fine steed, a deal was struck. Bud was surprised at the interest they showed in him versus the bike purchase. It seems they wanted valuable feedback regarding the performance of the bike from experienced cyclist to spread the word of the Bamboo as a feasible and even more so durable material for bike frame production. Bud was going to become part of the story so to say.
Bud Baker has had an interest in bamboo bike frames for a couple of years after hearing about Craig Calfee’s frame designs. After finding out about the 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show being held in Richmond, VA this year, he was super stoked about attending to see them for himself. Prior to the show, Bud started perusing Craig’s site to see what may be in store. He came across the Bamboosero website and was inspired by its mission. He became particular interested in the urban track bike shown on the site for sale. Bud Bakers currently has 7 bikes, but never a a single speed or fixed gear. To Bud Baker , riding a new bike is like having sex with a different women, both unique and crazy delicious.
Upon arrival at the show, Bud was flabbergasted to see the urban track bike at the show. After talking to Aaron then Craig Calfee, which both said they rode the bike and it was a fine steed, a deal was struck. Bud was surprised at the interest they showed in him versus the bike purchase. It seems they wanted valuable feedback regarding the performance of the bike from experienced cyclist to spread the word of the Bamboo as a feasible and even more so durable material for bike frame production. Bud was going to become part of the story so to say.
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