Bike Snob NYC
Today, I shall begin by talking about something that has nothing to do with bikes, and then I will magically transition over to bikes. That is my game plan, such as it is.
Stress
I am currently a tangled snarl of stress, wrapped up in a burlap bag of stress, being pounded by Thor’s Hammer of Stress.
In fewer than ten days, I must turn in a report — a report that is the distillation of about three months of intense research and analysis.
It occurs to me: most of you would be surprised at what I do for a living. You’d be surprised at how intense of a job it is. You’d be surprised that I’m actually kind of respected for the quality of work I do. And more than anything else, you’d be freaked out at my methodology. Coworkers walk into my War Room — yes, I actually have my very own War Room — and are startled by the amount and quality of information confronting them. Some begin to experience vertigo and have to leave.
I’d post pictures, but then I’d start getting a bunch of unwanted job offers, and right now I just don’t have the time to fend off the hordes of headhunters.
Anyway, as I was saying: I’m down to ten days ’til that report’s due, and I’ve got tons left to do on it.
Except that ten days is really more like six days, because before I knew my due date would be October 15, I set up a nice little four-day family vacation, going from October 10-14.
Excuse me. I need to throw up.
Bad Timing
Since I am so busy, I have hardly had any time for riding. I’m quickly falling out of shape, but I can live with that, because I know that staying in shape right now would be a futile effort. After all, once I have the shoulder surgery I’m going to be off the bike for a bit anyway. Not much point in trying to stay fast right now, is there?
So: now, when I am so busy I am staying up late each night, when I am so busy I don’t have time to ride, when I am so busy I am fully losing my mind, is a manifestly bad time for me to find a time-sucking work of genius: Bike Snob NYC.
And yet, I can’t stop reading this guy. He’s incredible.
The Difference
I’ve been reading newest-to-oldest, so I may not have the context right, but Bike Snob NYC (BSNYC, as he calls himself) loves his fixed gear bikes, and has a healthy disdain for the fixie foppery fad that’s sprung up around him.
Here’s how far apart he and I are: I didn’t even realize there is a fixie fad. I just have one — my stock Pista — because back when I lived in Washington, I thought it would be fun to race track.
He laments top tube pads on fixies. I have never even seen a fixie top tube pad.
He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the urban fixed gear cycling scene and its foibles. I just think about whether I could possibly climb a big mountain on my fixie without my knees shattering.
He has a treatise on how and when cyclists should greet each other that frankly has me thinking of plagiarizing and submitting it to BikeRadar, so I can take the week off.
I’m gushing, I know. But Bike Snob NYC is that funny.
I admire him, and I fear him.
PS: I now fully expect at least fifteen comments telling me that I am the last person in the world to discover this blog, and that the rest of you have been reading him for months. In which case, thanks for telling me.
Comment by BotchedExperiment | 10.4.2007 | 8:38 pm
Good thing you spent all those years in college to learn how to deal with all those data.
I hereby refuse to read Bike Snob NYC. I feel that reading the drivel typed by snobs is below me. Snobs are a low bunch, generally of limited IQ, and typically only suited to manual labor.
Comment by Patrick from Astoria | 10.4.2007 | 8:42 pm
As a re-entry rider (roadie/commuter church) and fellow fat-ish guy (six foot, 238 lbs. as of this morning – but dropping!) in my early thirties here in Gotham, I’ll have you know that I discovered you and BSNYC in quick succession one fine day not too long ago, and that you function as a valuable yin and yang for each other. His well-tuned snarling is fiercely funny, but gets a little bit overbearing at times. Your side of the world is the uplift – and often the real-life gravity, too – that keeps the balance.
Much strength to you (workwise) and Susan (I miss the old rides with Dad).
Comment by sly | 10.4.2007 | 8:45 pm
i just found that site today, then read yours saying the same so that was weird timing?
i dont like fixies so i dont like the people who ride them
j/k
Comment by mark | 10.4.2007 | 8:48 pm
It’s always about you, isn’t it. As if any of us had time to read another bike blog. (Walks away from the computer in disdain.)
Comment by KP | 10.4.2007 | 9:23 pm
There are 3 blogs I read consistently, yours and BSNYC are two of them. I should have mentioned BSNYC before, I apologize. Dave Moulton has a pretty good blog as well but I don’t check that one as often as the usual 3.
Comment by William | 10.4.2007 | 11:25 pm
Daily morning ritual for me is to read you and BSNYC, both entertaining in different ways. The difference is that I am entertained by you because I can relate to what you’re doing, BSNYC is just a biking related stand up routine that makes me laugh more or less every day.
But yes we have all been reading it for months, but didn’t want to tell you. Sorry about that!
Good luck with the report
Comment by buckythedonkey | 10.5.2007 | 12:57 am
Hmm, it would appear that I am the last person in the world to discover BSNYC.
Comment by Lins - Aust | 10.5.2007 | 1:45 am
I’d better do what you expect and help to push the count up to 15. Yes, I often read Bike Snob and have read bits and pieces of Dave Moulton. I came across them whilst trying to identify a steel bike frame which I exchanged for a pack of beer. Perfect really: he didn’t want the frame and I don’t drink.
By the way, I’m still trying to correctly identify this frame. Right now it’s hanging up until it gets a new paint job next week so its main feature is that it goes “pinnnnnnnggg” when you flick the down tube. It does have other non-reasonating features which may be more useful in identifyting it. Anyone know anything about Italian steel frames? I shall check back.
Comment by Mike Roadie | 10.5.2007 | 2:52 am
Fixies rhymes with pixies……OK?? I’m not sayin’……..I’m just sayin’…….. I used to check into him every now again but he seems so militant! It’s just like the movies–for my investment (time here, money at the movies) I’d rather be emtertained!!! And that you do, Elden!! (Al M. helps a lot, too!!).
Borrow with pride if you must, but FC and BikeRadar are both better off for your ramblings (puddle of conciousness-I have trouble with moving water).
To all: We will reach $12,000+ today for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and some thanks goes out to the readers of this here very Blog. TODAY is the last day for donations to be credited to the LiveStrong project. SO, support someone you know or someone you love, or honor someone like FC’s own wife Susan, or pay tribute to those who have passed by supporting this great cause.
http://austin07.livestrong.org/mlevin is the website to go to lend your support
I will be wearing the Pink FC WIN Jersey in Austin next week for one of the rides…..pictures to follow!!!!
Thanks again, and in advance for all your support.
FC, best of luck in the fight and with the project!!!!
Comment by Pammap | 10.5.2007 | 4:03 am
Ok, just checked out bikesnobnyc for the first time. I’m sorry but he’s NO fat cyclist! Not even in the same class. You’re just being humble. Glad he makes you laugh off your stress but I’ll stick to my morning cup-o-joe and FC. Good times!
Comment by cyclingphun.blogspot.com | 10.5.2007 | 4:05 am
I too am enamored with the whole fixie fad as it were. I have a story, that Im quickly learning I need to post as I finish on account I keep trashing them because you beat me to the punch. Are you not only fast, a heck of a climber, and uber intelligent, but also psychic? Anyway… I would also kill to know what it is you do. Sounds intriguing. Im just saying.
Comment by buckythedonkey | 10.5.2007 | 4:08 am
Did I imagine a post about a new jersey, or did it really go AWOL?
Comment by Trixie | 10.5.2007 | 4:10 am
I’m with you being the last one to discover BSNYC. However, your blog makes me want to get out and ride more (it’s my first year riding in a really long time like since childhood). Reading through BSNYC, it is sarcastic and comical but slightly over my head since I’m really new to the bicycling world. Also, his stuff seems more on a negative note and yours is definitely more positive and fun!
Comment by mrLee | 10.5.2007 | 4:41 am
I visit 3 sites daily as well; yours, bike snob nyc, and fixed gear gallery…….the fun part is how all 3 sites are now interrelated, but Fatty,when will we see your Pista on FGG, so bikesnobnyc can critique it on his blog……….hah!
Comment by mrLee | 10.5.2007 | 4:42 am
I visit 3 sites daily as well; yours, bike snob nyc, and fixed gear gallery…….the fun part is how all 3 sites are now interrelated, but Fatty,when will we see your Pista on FGG, so bikesnobnyc can critique it on his blog……….hah!
Comment by mrLee | 10.5.2007 | 4:43 am
double post, sorry, i hate when that happens………….
Comment by Lowrydr | 10.5.2007 | 4:57 am
Sorry FC, but I to have been reading the BSNYC and others for awhile too. But take heart, yours is the first one I read every day and usually a few times through out the day. Here’s my list of entertainment for the start of my day.
You
BSNYC
rocbike.com
treadly.thingoid.com (Treadly and Me) in OZ
kc-bike.blogspot.com
But you are the King when it comes to entertainment value.
Best to Susan and the Kids too.
Comment by James | 10.5.2007 | 5:20 am
I read both Fat Cyclist and BSNYC on a regular basis. The blogs are different, but both of them crack me up. I have been reading Fat Cyclist for a long time and occasionally it makes me laugh outload when I am supposed to be working. Now that I am reading both blogs, I am laughing at my desk all the time. I am pretty sure my coworkers think something is wrong with me. Thanks to both of you for that.
Comment by fatty | 10.5.2007 | 5:21 am
buckythedonkey – i managed to accidentally delete yesterday’s post about jerseys. or more specifically, i managed to overwrite the content of yesterday’s post with today’s post, so it seemed like yesterday’s comments were in response to today’s post, which made you all seem like you had very nice things to say about twinsix and the fatcyclist jersey in response to my praise of bsnyc. which was just too weird. so i deleted the whole mess.
fwiw, there seemed to be consensus around the idea of doing another run of the pink jerseys in the current design in both mens and womens sizes asap, and then doing a new design of the fatcyclist jersey in 2008.
Comment by Weean | 10.5.2007 | 5:41 am
I’ve been reading BSNYC for a couple of months now, and this blog for a couple of years. I just assumed that it had been this blog that had directed me to it. Oh well, maybe not.
I also check out http://www.drunkcyclist.com on a fairly regular basis, but that can be a bit ‘adult’ at times.
I just wish I could remember where I recently found the link to the photos of the suicidal squirrels that had a) ended up in someones brake rotor and b) snapped someones forks. That’d've been a shoo-in for the surreal prizes.
I’m glad it wasn’t just me that imagined the jersey post.
Comment by TIMK | 10.5.2007 | 5:45 am
I’m late to the Bike Snob NYC show as well. Just gave it a scan – not bad- it’s kind of like gofugyourself.com for bikes.
Comment by Flying Penguin | 10.5.2007 | 6:10 am
I am sorry I have never read Bike Snob. Not too sure if I want to as there are way too many of those here, snobs that is bike and otherwise. I discovered FC because of the Bicycling Magazine cover and the estimable pink jersey. I thoroughly enjoy this blog as it gives me a good pick up.(plus it is one of the only things I read where I end up laughing out loud with my co-workers silently wondering what in the world I am reading) Keep up the good work and may the force be with you on your project. (:>( )[
Comment by Al Maviva | 10.5.2007 | 6:18 am
I like BSNYC a lot. I think he supports anybody who rides but seems to have undertaken the mission of trying to wise up a lot people who bring faddish stupidity with them – the newbie rider on a brakeless fixie, no helmet, and the bike is badly converted with the track cog brazed on, stuff like that. He is more critical than Elden, who is Accepting of All, but the bike world actually needs some people like that. The only mainstream blog or print source I’ve found with a similar outlook is Dirt Rag, at its most irreverent – though Pez comes close sometimes.
My daily cycling blog reads? FC, of course, BSNYC, Trust But Verify, and a small host of local racers’ blogs.
Comment by bikemike | 10.5.2007 | 6:27 am
ahhh, but, does BSNYC read Fat Cyclist? maybe then his harshness would be tempered by your well meaning but highly entertaining bloggery. or not.
yep, his is the OTHER one i read.
Comment by Born 4 Lycra | 10.5.2007 | 7:03 am
I would have told you but I thought you were busy. I was also going to ask about the missing post but I see Bucky beat me to it and you have already answered. Given you had a consensus will you seek a vote on the new colour?
Comment by fatty | 10.5.2007 | 7:49 am
born4lycra – for the first rev of the fatcyclist jersey, the twinsix guys and i went round and round on both color and design. i think that at some point on the next edition, once we narrow it down to a couple designs and colors, i will put it up to a vote. that would be cool.
Comment by Marrock | 10.5.2007 | 7:52 am
Better to find it late than not at all, no?
Comment by Gastroc | 10.5.2007 | 9:01 am
Too bad a lot of the fixie snobs don’t ride their bikes as much as they stand behind them.
Comment by Michael S | 10.5.2007 | 9:13 am
The crazy thing about BSNYC is that he comes up with something great EVERY DAY. I think there has to be more than one writer, since that would require a lot of creativity/venom/anger/humor from one person
Comment by BikeSnobNYC | 10.5.2007 | 9:18 am
Michael S,
I am very flattered and very angry.
Singularly,
–BSNYC
Comment by Clydesteve | 10.5.2007 | 9:28 am
Keep the rearing Clydesdale. He is significant.
Comment by Clydesteve | 10.5.2007 | 9:34 am
BTW, BSNYC gives some nice props back to Fatty in today’s Symmetry piece.
Comment by Forrest Gladding | 10.5.2007 | 10:12 am
Bike Snob is a genius and its a must read everyday.
Pingback by RocBike.com » Links Of The Day: 5 October 2007 | 10.5.2007 | 10:15 am
[...] Bike Snob NYC [...]
Comment by Rob (not Rick) | 10.5.2007 | 10:55 am
When BikesnobNYC posted his “When cyclists should great eachother” piece, I actually commented to my brother how it seemed as though he may have been pulling some ideas from the Fat Cyclist bag…Now if you were to plagiarize him with a similar post, it could become a chicken and the egg thing…
Comment by Lowrydr | 10.5.2007 | 10:58 am
Michael S., He does live in NYC after all. That has to be fertile grounds for venom and humor at least. Great posts BSNYC
Comment by TimK | 10.5.2007 | 10:58 am
I think now that BSNYC is a “friend” that he should take advatage of the PhillipsData friend of fatty discount and drop the blogspot – page load time over there seems about as fast as a Huffy going up hill.
Comment by Rob (not Rick) | 10.5.2007 | 11:02 am
(My last comment was not to suggest that BSNYC has ever copied you, just that the post seemed very – fat cyclist’esque.)
Comment by Mike Roadie | 10.5.2007 | 12:25 pm
Fixies rhymes with pixies……OK?? I’m not sayin’……..I’m just sayin’…….. I used to check into him every now again but he seems so militant! It’s just like the movies–for my investment (time here, money at the movies) I’d rather be emtertained!!! And that you do, Elden!! (Al M. helps a lot, too!!).
Borrow with pride if you must, but FC and BikeRadar are both better off for your ramblings (puddle of conciousness-I have trouble with moving water).
To all: We will reach $12,000+ today for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and some thanks goes out to the readers of this here very Blog. TODAY is the last day for donations to be credited to the LiveStrong project. SO, support someone you know or someone you love, or honor someone like FC’s own wife Susan, or pay tribute to those who have passed by supporting this great cause.
http://austin07.livestrong.org/mlevin is the website to go to lend your support
I will be wearing the Pink FC WIN Jersey in Austin next week for one of the rides…..pictures to follow!!!!
Thanks again, and in advance for all your support.
FC, best of luck in the fight and with the project!!!!
Comment by KeepYerBag | 10.5.2007 | 1:59 pm
Is fighting allowed in the War Room?
Comment by Logan | 10.5.2007 | 4:52 pm
My favorite BSNYC moment is when he makes a joke about Sheldon Brown and then SB comments on the post.
Comment by Radman | 10.5.2007 | 5:55 pm
Wow, nice work snubbing the snob, BotchedExperiment. Who’s the snob now, snobby?
Comment by Marty | 10.5.2007 | 8:25 pm
I read Bike Snob for a while but decided its tone was too negative and have deleted it off my bookmarks. I like Fattys (if I may call him that,) upbeat attitude.
Comment by leroy | 10.6.2007 | 2:26 pm
Okay, I found Fatcyclist by reading BSNYC.
Am I like the only one who didn’t know?
I’ll read you both from now on.
Comment by Bob | 10.6.2007 | 5:14 pm
I didn’t know there was a fixie fad until a couple weeks ago, when a garbage truck ran over and killed a 19-year-old kid riding a fixie (no helmet) here in Seattle. The article was rehashing the arguments: fixies aren’t safe because they don’t have brakes vs. fixies are perfectly safe because you brake with your legs.
Comment by Jeremy | 10.6.2007 | 6:35 pm
Dear John,
I have found someone new….
Comment by Big Mike In Oz | 10.7.2007 | 12:47 am
I’d have told you earlier but since you live a couple of thousand miles away and I live on the other side of the planet I figured you’d heard of him.
And nothing stranger than… there’s a Bike Snob advert in the google bar directly below this entry. Talk about a target audience.
Comment by Bitter (formerly known as Lissee) | 10.7.2007 | 7:52 am
As a NYC dweller, I can’t tell you how relieved I was to realize that Bike Snob NYC is a person, not a rant about someone you met here in the City…I’d not read him before, so I guess I’ll head right over.
:)
Comment by Gareth | 10.7.2007 | 1:55 pm
heres another version of fixie madness http://www.fyxomatosis.com
Comment by bdarma | 10.8.2007 | 11:49 pm
well never read Bike Snob before. I read yours, and Kent Peterson.
Comment by Kalgrm | 10.12.2007 | 9:42 pm
Looks like I’m the last person on Earth to discover Fat Cyclist.com
…. which I did through reading BSNYC …..
Cheers,
Graeme
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