Bike Repair Stand Score!

So I dropped by the local bike shop this morning, and some guy who's moving had dropped off a bike repair stand just to get rid of it.  The owner didn't have any use for it, so he moved it on down the line to... me.  It's the same model as in the picture, though that's not my picture nor is it my stand.

Never had a bike stand before, though I have used any number of them through the years.  I'm sure I'll get decades of good use out of it.  In fact, I have one of these frame protector spray jobs coming up, and I'm sure this stand will be a great help.

Anyway, Skunk Monkeys Bike Shop, 41 Market Street, Apalach.  Great folks.

Year of the Straggler

And it's been a great year on the new bike that still hasn't seen any real adventure.  No new pics, just rides around, through, up, over, and occasionally under town.  For a nice pic, see the original post announcing the acquisition.  Also, see the one month review.  Hopefully it'll see some roads up in Tates's Hell Swamp this winter and a little more adventure, or at least a trip to the Dwarf Cypress Forest.

As for changes, not really many.  Added a seat bag, have a handlebar bag ready to go.  Shorter stem, dropping from 100mm to 70mm; makes all the difference in handling.  Um... the shop here in town replaced a broken spoke, but that's not really an upgrade, nor even much of a change.  Rebuilt the pedals.  Wore out the rear stock tire; replaced it with a Ritchey SpeedMax, which is marginally faster.  I guess that counts as an upgrade.  Anyway, none of this has substantially changed the look of the bike, so that initial picture still holds.

Thinking back to getting this bike just before and unbeknownst to me the release of the new model, I'm glad I have the one I have.  I'd always admired the Straggler's predecessor, a model called the Cross-Check which was essentially the same bike with rim brakes.  Also, I was curious about Avid mechanical disc brakes, which are not on the latest version.  If I had the latest model, I'd have always wondered about what I'd missed.

All told though, I am quite surprised at the lack of pics of the bike in the photo album.  Will have to remedy that soon.  Cooler weather is just around the corner, and adventure awaits.

More Tropical Slop

Stuck inside for the... third day now.  Yes, that is a center of rotation around some weak tropical system south of the Alabama beaches, but I don't think it'll amount to much.   Neither does the NHC, which is comforting.

Anyway, I've been promising myself that I'd do some Deep Re-Arranging & Ditching of Crap around the house some nasty August days, and those days have arrived.  One weekday next week after the weather clears, I'll be taking a pickup truck load to the dump.  Still plenty of work to go, but it looks like we'll have plenty of ugly weather too.  "Make hay while the sun shines"?  "Clear junk while the rain falls."

Speaking of ugly weather, it's Katrina+21 day today!  Yes, Katrina's old enough to have a drink.  video  No mention in the Sea Coast Echo (the BSL newspaper), though I see that things have gone trendy in the old stomping grounds.

Let's finish with something good today, a breezy 15 minute run-through of how mountain bike tech has evolved since its start.  I love all the new stuff: 1x drivetrains, decent suspension, disc brakes, improved geometry, even dropper posts.  Better yet, we're seeing steps towards simplifying the new tech, making it easier to work on.  All good stuff.

Another Little Rant About e-Bikes

And this time, it's  somebody else for a change!  Listen now and hate me later, but at least hear the mechanic speak (9 minutes).  Especially that part at the very end.  All brutal, but all true.

You can find my previous thoughts on the matter here and here.

Fat Tire Musings

Following up on an earlier test ride of a friend's fat tire bike, I've done some looking around at these weird beasts of burden.  With no real mountain biking nearby but plenty of bikeable beaches, one might make sense.  First question: 4.8" wide tires, or will 3.8" tires suffice?  It took a few searches, but this forum discussion at Mountain Bike Review sums it up nicely: you can get by with 4", but when the tide's in and you can't ride down on the hard damp sand, something in the 5" range is the way to go.  

Next up, can I get by with a cheap big-box store-grade bike for $500, or do I have to shell out 5x bucks for the real deal?  I mean, sure, for something I'm going to ride all the time it's a no-brainer.  On the other hand, if it's  something I'm going to take on the beach a half-dozen times a year, maybe cheap is the way to go.  Hopefully "cheap but serviceable" and not "cheap disposable junk."  Here's a video comparison close to what would be my options.  Unfortunately they've both gone up about 25% in price since that video was made, but that is the way things go these days.

Other significant considerations are how much would I actually use the thing, and do I already have a bike that can do the job well enough?  Looking around, I was able to identify eight nearby areas where a fat bike would be useful, of which perhaps half are terrain where nothing else will serve.  So maybe that's justification enough.  Maybe.  Frankly, I need to do some exploring when the weather cools.

And finally, where to keep the thing?  I live upstairs in a fairly small place, and hauling 35 lbs+ of steel each way while tripping over an idle bike when it's not in use, well, it's just not all that appealing.  But it could be, given good enough reason.

Will mull on this one some more, and with data from some exploratory trips once the weather cools.  Not a decision to be made lightly.  Still though, the idea of doing some more beach-centric yet still hardcore biking has a lot going for it.

Moved the Old Gravel Bike

After 15 years of riding and over 10 months of casually trying to sell the thing, a friend bought my old Specialized Tricross last weekend.  Here's my favorite picture of it, and some links to relevant blog posts.  Here, have some theme music.

First ever coffeeneuring stop, at the Mockingbird in 2017

• A Nasty Surprise
• To the East End of St. George
• At the Bethel Trails
• A 2020 coffeeneuring interlude (with a nice picture)
• Waiting for Hurricane Zeta
• New pedals! (now rebuilt and transplanted to the Straggler)
• New wheel!
• Parting glamor pic, all freshly washed up and ready to move on.

It's good to see the bike go to a friend who'll both ride and appreciate it.

More on the Over-Biking Trend

The trails got smoother and the bikes got burlier.  Something has to give. over at Singletracks mag.  A little long and ramble-ish, but the problems with bike bloat are real.  Most bike customers have absolutely no use for what in a previous decade would have been considered a downhill race bike.  My 2024 thoughts on this matter.

And now in 2026, you can add an electric motor.

FWIW, it's not all that different in the computer industry:

Think I'll venture forth on my rigid chromoly under-bike now, before this fine July day heats up.  There are few things worth doing that you can't do with a bike like that and a PDP-11.

Bike Wisdom

Busy day today, so here's this morning's dose of bike lore from 2011: 

Some Answers to Just About Any Bike Forum Post I've Read

Heh, remember forums?  (fora? never took Latin)  So much more civilized than today's antisocial media platforms, all optimized for engagement (read: what we used to call flame wars).

Look, that's about all I got for today.  Broke a spoke on the Straggler yesterday; finished the ride and then Kevin had it all fixed before noon (Skunk Monkeys, 41 Market St., Apalach; recommended).  One silver spoke on a wheel of black spokes, the bike is beginning to show some lived-in character.  The new clothes washer will be here shortly today, and brother do I ever have a pile of shorts and jerseys to wash.  Life is good.

Graphic?  Oh OK, here's one sort of relating to bikes, broken spokes, and dental implants.

Well, maybe be a little stupid.  At least, enough to have some fun.

Test Rode a Moonlander Fat Bike

A friend with one a size or two too large for me let me take his out for a spin around the neighborhood gravel, and damn but it was fun.  It's one of the 1.0 series, not the newer 2.0's, so none of the newer stuff.  In its essentials, it's probably closer to Surly's current Ice Cream Truck: derailleur gearing, 4.8" tires, somewhat normal geometry.  Anyway, here's a pic from the web site:

It was a crazy blast to take on some neighborhood dirt.  One alleyway filled with roller bearing pea gravel that always is a pain in the butt rode about as well as the paved streets.  I didn't have any deep sand to sample, but the pea gravel was enough.  On pavement, the big tires sound like a B-24 bomber, that's kind of cool.  Though for the price on the tires, I don't think I'd take it on pavement any more than absolutely necessary.  On rough descents and ascents, it just... rode.  Keep on pedaling, and it keeps going.  I shudder to think though about something harsh enough to stop it, because that stop's probably going to hurt.  In the meantime though, keep pedaling and the ride is good!

So, am I going to run out and get one?  Eh, it's kind of a specialty tool.  Definitely not an actual current model Moonlander.  At over $4k, I wouldn't get enough use of it to be worth it.  Maybe an Ice Cream Truck at about half the price.  Surly's lower-priced Wednesday option rides on 3.8" tires, and I'm not sure that would give the full-on fat tire float on sand that I'm looking for.  Right now though, I'm not going to sweat it.  I've got a couple of other bikes to move first (got to make room), and the weather's too hot to grind down the beach right now anyway.  Will revisit in the fall.

Big Stupid Fun, and Mostly Harmless

• K0NR (aka Bob) writes about the Brass Knuckle Gang at his blog, including a link to the BKG website.
• Singletracks online mag weighs in on what is probably the first production Ti-framed 32" wheel bike, and they can't quite decide what it is.  Gravel?  Mountain bike?  Likely fun either way.

Neither one is my thing, but hey, it's good to see people out there Doing Unusual Stuff.

Sorry Man, It's a Motor Scooter. Or Maybe a Motorcycle.

In the news this week, Gov. DeSantis vetoed an e-bike regulation bill.  I have to side with the Gov. on this one, because that bill seemed to be a morass of unenforceable namby-pamby minutia.  Here's a simpler solution.  On road:

If it's got a motor, it's either a motor scooter or, above 746W / 1HP, a motorcycle.  Apply existing laws accordingly.

Yeah, that's right, I said it, I mean it.  Below I'll paste a list of relevant news links and an AI summary of FL motor scooter laws.  But first, what should be done off-road?  Here's what:

With a broad medical exemption (requiring a physician's determination followed by a visit to your local DMV or county tax office for a durable license card & license plate), no e-bikes off-road on public bicycle trails.

Harsh?  Nah.  You weren't dogged by a couple of yo-yos in the 2023 Santos Fat Tire Fest Epic 50.  They weren't pedaling at all, but had the boom box cranked to 11, yacking above the din the whole time.  I finally took an extended coffee break and flagged them by, just to get some peace.  At the trailhead they were snapping selfies with their finisher medals and generally acting like they'd accomplished something.

OK, rant over.  Here are the promised links and the AI summary of FL scooter rules:

• My previous thoughts on the matter off-road (includes much discussion about needed & reasonable medical exemptions) and a short follow-up.
• DeSantis rejects e-bike bill
• A description of the bill (with TLDR summary at the top)
• South Florida's e-bike boom (blood! scars! Darwinian selection of tweenagers!)
• E-bike vs. e-moto (at SingleTracks; mostly off-road applicable)

Are you confused at all as to whether these are actual bicycles suitable for 11 year olds?  If so, consult your friendly biologist specializing in natural selection today.  Yes, it's brutal to discuss children's lives so bluntly, but that was their parents' choice, not yours or mine.

Now for the AI cut-and-paste summary of existing Florida law:

Florida distinguishes between motorized scooters (no seat/saddle, stand-up style), motor scooters/mopeds (with seat), and motorcycles based on engine size and specs.

Key Categories and Rules (as of recent statutes)

• Mopeds / Motor scooters ≤50cc (with seat/saddle, ≤2 brake horsepower, ≤30 mph on level ground):
  • License: Valid Class E driver's license (regular car license); no motorcycle endorsement needed. Minimum age typically 16.
  • Registration: Required in most cases (as a moped).
  • Helmet: Not required for riders 16+ (but required under 16). Eye protection often recommended or required.
  • Other: Cannot operate on interstates or certain high-speed roads. Must follow traffic laws. Insurance not required (but recommended).
• Motor scooters >50cc: Classified as motorcycles.
  • License: Class E license + motorcycle endorsement (or motorcycle-only license) required.
  • Registration/Title: Required.
  • Helmet: Required if under 21, or if over 21 without qualifying insurance ($10,000 medical benefits coverage). All riders need eye protection. Under-16 rules are stricter.
  • Insurance: Not strictly required by state law for mopeds/scooters but highly advised (liability coverage recommended).

General Rules

• All riders must obey traffic laws, signals, and have lights/reflectors where applicable.
• Passengers: Limited; specific rules apply (e.g., proper seating).
• Local ordinances: Cities/counties may have additional restrictions (e.g., on sidewalks, speeds, or rental scooters).
• Electric versions often fall under similar categories depending on power/speed.

Laws can be nuanced by exact vehicle specs and may change—check the official FLHSMV site or Florida Statutes (e.g., Chapters 316, 320, 322) for your specific scooter, and verify with local authorities. Always wear protective gear for safety regardless of legal minimums.

Rant off, and now I'm off to catch a mullet for supper.

Tick Tick Tick – but no Tock

Short and sweet, How to Remove a Tick Safely and Avoid Lyme Disease at Outside magazine.

It's very short so read the whole thing.  However, just in case, here's a refresher:

• Get it off ASAP, preferably with tweezers grabbing the head.  Don't delay for a trip to the ER!
• SNAP A PICTURE of it.  Hadn't thought of this one, but it'll help if follow-up treatment is needed.
• Wash the bite with soap & water, hand sanitizer, or similar.  Whatever you've got.

There are a few more twists and turns at the article, so go read that, but those are the basics.  I'll add two more:

• Always carry suitable tick tweezers when in the outdoors.  Way better than fingers, but if that's all you've got, get the bug off ASAP with your fingers.
• Take some form of B vitamin before heading into the woods.  Pill or a B-heavy energy drink will do.  Ticks, along with many other bugs, don't seem to like the smell.

Sorry, no pictures here.  That may come as some minor relief.

Return of the (dramatic music please) Steamroller

Surly is bringing back a limited run of their Steamroller fixie bike.  Frameset only, $699.  Drops on June 23rd at 9am CDT.  Take note of that and get your order in, because there may be a (small) run on this re-introduced classic.  Personally, my running will be more of "away" than "toward," but that's OK, you do you.  I have the greatest respect for fixie riders, but it's just not my thing.  Even the fans of fixies think the whole niche is stupid.

Here are some links: at Surly, news at Bike Radar, an old review.  Not quite sure where to order one; left as an exercise for the student, you'll figure it out.

Right now though, I'm fighting a bad jones for a fat bike.  With the relative lack of trails here in FL, having something to navigate beach sand is beginning to show its appeal.  More than anything else, it's a lack of a place to keep it that's holding me back.

Take Care of Your Own Neighborhood... Dogs

Florida Woman Mauled to Death by Dogs that Had Allegedly Terrorized Neighborhood, Owner Charged in Killing

First, go read the whole thing.

OK, we all know that some individual dogs are just plain mean, and some breeds are generally more inclined so than others.  The woman who owned these dogs wasn't properly fencing them, and evidently not properly training them either.  But what ticks me off is that other neighbors had previously been attacked, but refused to cooperate with law enforcement to counter this threat.  Look people, this is Florida.  Call the cops if you can, or pepper spray or shoot the damn dog if there isn't time.  The main thing is to break the immediate assault then to get the continuing threat off the street.

A couple of years ago while riding my gravel bike I was jumped by a pit bull.  For his trouble, he ended up with a face full of pepper spray.  From then on he was always fenced, and when he'd see me passing he'd lay down turn his head as if to hide, so I guess the pepper spray counted as a form of "training."  But the part that bugs me?  I later learned that the same dog had been previously terrorizing neighbors, and they'd done nothing.  What's more, this was adjacent to a school.  What if that same dog had decided to eat up one of the kids who'd stepped out the back door?  Yes, the responsibility is on the owner, but there's also a degree of responsibility for those neighbors who'd previously turned their heads.

Anyway, returning to the case in the news item above, because of the owner's negligence and a neighbor's reluctance, a woman is dead.  Don't be that neighbor, and don't shove the problem off on someone else.  Deal with the dog problem as it comes around.  A dead 50-yo is bad enough, but you really don't want a dead kid on your conscience.

ps: 10 Internet Points if you can ID the semi-famous photo in the figure.

Mountain Bikers & Insurance

Mostly this is a problem for the pros, but it can be for the rest of us as well.  Article at Singletracks.

Also note, there's a world of difference between the people doing exhibition downhill stuff like the Red Bull Rampage and people like me doing what is best described as hiking on wheels.  However, I don't think that any insurance company can discern between these activities; I know that some of my family certainly can't.

As a side note, I see that BCBS has dumped their Live Fearless advertising campaign of a decade ago.

More on E-Bikes

Article at CNN: What ER doctors, prosecutors, and parents want you to know about e-bikes

As is usual with these sorts of mainstream articles, it's kind of fear-up-y.  Even so, worth the read.

About all the content I can add is that brain damage to an unprotected skull starts a little below 15 mph, and your brain doesn't care if that's your 15 mph, the car's 15 mph, or 15 mph from your 7 foot fall.  A helmet more or less doubles your head's crashworthiness, but don't count on too much even there because things like neckbones can start breaking too.  (And then it's hello motorized wheelchair for your new e-mobility.)  See previous discussion of bike helmets.

E-bikes have their place off-road, as I've discussed previously (tldr: for a few medical reasons, or for very specific race training purposes).  What's more, they have a place on-road as cargo bikes (example 1, example 2).  Commuting?  Nah, can't really see the need.  If you can't do the distance, you likely don't have the skill set to navigate the traffic.  Get a bike and build both endurance and skill, together, and then start bike commuting.

Look man, these things are motorcycles.  What kind of moron turns a tweenager loose to ride a motorcycle in traffic?

That New Chain Feel, Part 2

Last week, the gravel bike; this week the mountain bike.  Surprisingly, the cassette's still running strong now on a fourth chain.  Usually they only last for three, and that third one can be dodgy.  What's more, the latest third chain lasted for eight hundred miles.  I tell you, I had my doubts about 12-speed drivetrains initially, but wow they are tough.  For comparison, back in the day an 8-speed chain would last right at three hundred miles, and a cassette nine hundred.

BTW & note to future self, the previous chain was a SRAM GX and the new chain is the slightly less expensive NX.  It'll be interesting to see if it holds up as well.

Onward.  I've got miles to ride this morning.

Ah, That New Chain Feel

When the gravel bike's transmission starts treating shifter input as a suggestion for eventual action rather than as an immediate command, that's an indicator that it's time for a new chain.  A quick check with a chain stretch gauge confirmed it – not in the red zone yet, but edging onto it – and the change went smoothly.  No need to swap the cassette or chainrings yet, not if you change out a chain in time.  Usually get about three chains to the rest of the drivetrain components, before those need swaps too.  One down, two to go.  And yes, I do keep a log book of these things, because keeping track of multiple bikes would be impossible  otherwise.

The ride today was noticeably more snappy.  Funny how these little wear items creep up on you.

Good Advice on Bike Wrenching

An ex-mechanic with ten years' experience dives into some useful stuff over at youtube:

• Top 10 Things I learned Working in a Bike Shop (10 minutes)
• Three More Things You'll Find Useful (6 minutes)
• Five Mistakes I've Made (9 minutes)
• 10 Essential Tools for Any Home Bike Mechanic (15 minutes)

FWIW, I still don't have a work stand.  Where the hell would I put it?

Anyway, his channel's just getting rolling, so look around through his videos for a handful of other bike items.  He does some other mechanical stuff over there that you may find useful too.

Yes, after Friday's post, I'm still around.  Though I have to say, that would have been a great post to wrap up this blog.  Not going anywhere though.

Santos 2026 Recap Video

17 minutes over at YouTube.  He's been doing these the last few years, I've linked there before, but  you can most easily find his previous years' recaps at his youtube page.

Pushing for speed over 50 miles, I dunno, not my style.  You can tell the guy was suffering.  Hey, everybody gets to pick their own poison.

FWIW, here are my March comments on the Santos Fat Tire Fest 2026.  Was that just a month ago?