Living For The City

I found this photo via Ryan’s Blog (I hope he doesn’t mind me lifting it) and I’m glad he is quicker with the shutter than I am because I’ve seen this guy zooming around Queen W and I’ve wanted to photograph / comment on him for a while. I’ve wanted to mention it to him directly but I didn’t know if that was a dick move or not? Maybe not saying anything to him and commenting about him on the internet is worse… but I digress.

Now, riding fixed is super fun but there is a potential for real danger – I think this is part of what attracts a lot of people to riding fixed gear bikes. A little bit of danger makes our otherwise mundane lives just a little bit more exciting. This really isn’t about this guy in particular, he may well be a very experienced / competent rider but there are three things about this that makes a simple trip to the store that much more dangerous;

1) No clips/straps or Clipless pedals. Especially if riding brakeless, having your feet properly secured to your pedals is pretty important if you want to maintain control over your bike. I’m not saying that you “need” them but riding on plain platform pedals at any real speed on a fixed gear is just a bad idea as far as I’m concerned.

2) Flip flops. Having your feet slip off the pedal while trying to stop in a hurry is bad (see Point 1) – having them slip off the pedal and having your footware end up on the street in the process adds another level of complication that I wouldn’t be comfortable with.

3) Grocery Bag. A co-worker of my mother’s (I think, can you confirm, Mom?) lost their son when he was riding with a grocery bag which got caught in the spokes causing him to crash… badly enough to kill him. I’m not saying I never do it but I certainly don’t make it regular practice and I’m very cautious when I do.

All I’m saying is that there are small things that we can do (or not do) while riding to make our experiences out there a little safer… damn, I really need to start riding with a helmet at some point.

Update: I saw this guy again on Monday night… Wearing dress pants (not rolled up) & Flip Flops, lollygagging along Duncan Street. On the plus side, he does at least have a front brake on his bike – I couldn’t tell from the pictures before.

Last night someone stole Toby’s bike in Kensington Market. Now, for a lot of us we ride bikes because it’s fun, challenging and something that we can do with our friends. This is true of Toby, but he also makes a living using his bike so when you steal his bike you not only fuck with his hobby, you fuck with his livelihood.

I don’t expect that the thieves will ride this bike as is or try to sell it complete so please keep an eye out for a super small black NYC Bikes frame, Orange Deep Vs (I expect that they’ll remove the spokie dokies), a Profile carbon fork with a super short steerer tube, etc… I should also add that it may be a blue Cycle Mania frame vs. the black NYC Bikes frame because I know he picked one up last week & that the Orange Deep Vs have some touch up paint on them so if you get a good look at them, they are easily identified.

Good luck Toby – I’ll do everything I can (admittedly not much) to help you get your bike back.

On a side note: As I sat down to write this I turned on the TV and there is an infomercial on for a product called “The Tobi” – Weird.

I’ve been under the weather for the last few days and as such haven’t really been out doing much of anything so I thought I’d cheer myself up at someone else’s expense. Oliver HATES playing dress-up, we like it.

Hot Springs Arkansas Police Department
Chief of Police, Bobby Southard
bsouthard@cityhs.net

I haven’t ridden a skateboard seriously in about 10 years but I spent nearly every day from the ages of 8-18 on one and I dealt with varying degrees of Police harassment on a very regular basis. In my day we didn’t have cheap access to video cameras and didn’t have websites like youtube to show the world how well we were treated by the boys in blue – or white golf shirts as the case may be. I’m glad that these kids do have access to such things so that people can get a real feel for how Police interact with evildoers – or kids riding around on planks of wood, whichever term you prefer.

I can appreciate the stress of the job and know that Police Officers have to deal with things no average person should have to – but when children, and that’s what they are, are able to exercise reason and show better judgment than those you’ve appointed to uphold the law – you’ve got a real problem on your hands.

I think my favorite part of the video is when Officer Williams tells this kid that he can be charged with battery because this oaf cut himself while tackling a child. The fact that you ever perceive these children as a threat is an embarrassment in and of itself.

Officer Joey Williams should be ashamed of himself and anyone in your department who supports his actions should be removed from their post immediately. Unfortunately, we all know how it goes – you guys get slapped on the wrist when you shoot unarmed civilians – no one’s head is going to roll because one of your good old boys chokes out a couple of harmless teenagers.

I’m aware that this situation wasn’t particularly brutal (certainly not more so than many things I’ve witnessed) but the sheer absurdity of the situation warrants some sort of action on your part – if nothing else an apology to parents who had to watch their children manhandled by a grown man – a grown man with a tiny penis, but a grown man none the less.

Sincerely,
Matt Rennick

Hammell is heading out today on Warped Tour with The Dear & Departed for a month or so… We’ll miss ya, buddy!

I didn’t get any photos of the send-off but here is a sweet little bike pile from out front:

This thing was the bane of my existence for a couple of days – thanks to Keith from Cavern for helping a brother out!

If Dexter doesn’t warm your heart just a little then you’ve got some serious problems.

I don’t know how it happened but Sean went to Quebec for a few days to meet with Louis Garneau and while he was there he traded in his bike for a spaceship. Congrats on the new job, buddy.

The maiden voyage of “white privilege”

Lola has been biking HARD! Just look at those oil stains!

Scenario:
I don’t mind the fact that things break from time to time – that’s what they do, especially when you drop them. I don’t mind paying for replacement parts on products that have broken unless there is a quality / workmanship issue at hand.

A little while ago I dropped the remote that controls my TV / DVD / Home Theatre and the battery cover broke. No big deal, right? I’ll either just put tape on it to keep the batteries in place or I’ll just get in touch with JVC and order a new battery cover. That makes sense, right? Wrong. Apparently JVC doesn’t think that stocking replacement parts for their products is worthwhile – they much prefer the “throw out the old / buy new” approach. I’m not entirely sure why I’d want to throw out a perfectly functional remote because one small, easily replaced piece of plastic has broken. I’m even less sure why I’d want to pay over $50 for the new remote.

Strongly Worded Letter:
I recently contacted JVC regarding a broken remote control battery cover (DVD Digital Theater System TH-C3). I was informed that if I wished to replace it, I would have to purchase an entirely new remote.

This is very disappointing for two reasons; there are cost implications involved that don’t make any sense for the consumer and more importantly, I find it to be unacceptable that a company would allow an entire working remote to become landfill because a small, extremely easily replaced piece of plastic has broken. The last thing this planet needs is more unnecessary garbage. If you are unable to provide a replacement part, I will attempt to fix the cover myself as I will not purchase an entire remote when the one I have continues to operate properly.

Furthermore; I currently own a JVC TV, Home Theatre, stereo and have purchased several pairs of JVC Headphones over the years. I’ve always enjoyed JVC products and have spoken fondly of them when asked about them – I will no longer purchase JVC Products and will encourage any interested parties to avoid JVC products altogether.

If your company cannot provide a reasonable service to its existing customers, I can no longer continue to support JVC in any way, shape or form.

Thank you for your time,
Matt Rennick

Result:
A new remote delivered in the mail, free of charge. It certainly doesn’t solve the beef I have with companies that don’t stock replacement parts but now I’ve got two remotes so I can just sit there and control the shit out of my entertainment system with the power of TWO remotes!

Thanks for the remote, JVC, but you still get the gas face.

How’s the ass, buddy?

Before:

After 30 minutes with a wire wheel:

Ben‘s got ups!

Bloody Matt is lucky that I like him, if it were anyone else I’d keep this for myself:

*10 points to whoever actually gets the TGIMP reference.

Scenario:
I came home one day and went to open my microwave only to find that the handle had broken. No big deal, right? I’ll just get in touch with Frigidaire and order a new handle. That makes sense, right? Wrong. I called Frigidaire (Electrolux Home Products) and told them that I needed to order a new handle and they told me that my warrantee had just expired a month or so prior. I told them that was fine and I’d like to order one anyway – that is until I found out that it would cost $240 for them to come and fix it or $110 for me to order it from them and fix it myself. Keep in mind, this is just a plastic handle with no mechanical parts – literally just a piece of molded plastic and these sons of bitches want $110 for it? It is maybe 50 cents worth of plastic, if that. I went back and forth with people via phone and email and eventually gave in and decided to order the handle, albeit from another supplier, but order it none the less for about $90. It’s a $600 + Microwave / Range Hood so replacing it outright wasn’t much of an option.

I found a tutorial for replacing the handle online (GD bless the interweeb) and replaced it and decided to send Frigidaire one final “F YOU” in written form.

Strongly Worded Letter 01:
When I bought my home a year ago it came with a fridge, stove and microwave / hood – all of which are made by Frigidaire, all of which I’ve been very happy with. I rarely use my microwave but last week I went to open it (lightly, might I add) and the bottom part of the handle came loose. The plastic on the inside where the handle threads onto the door has broken somehow. I figured that it wouldn’t be a big deal because a handle is just a basic piece of plastic, maybe 50 cents worth? I was shocked when I found out that it would cost over $110 for me to buy the part and attempt to fix it on my own and nearly $240 to have it repaired for me.

I just wanted to write to say that I think your products are great while they’re operational but I am extremely disappointed with your service and will not be purchasing Frigidaire products in the future and will not be recommending your products the way I have in the past when people have asked what I thought of my appliances.

Good day,
Matt

Result:
Not a god damned thing.

Strongly Worded Letter 02:
I hope this small piece of plastic (Part: 5304440323) was worth losing a potentially life-long customer over. Because you made me pay $100 to replace a cheap piece of plastic, you will never get another red cent from me and I will never recommend your products to anyone ever again. I purchased a small microwave for my office (not an awful one, either) on the weekend and it was $5 cheaper than the tiny piece of plastic I just replaced on my microwave at home. How does that make any sense? It doesn’t – you’re over inflating cheap replacement products because you know that people would rather suck it up and spend $110 on a $1 piece of plastic than replace their entire $600 microwave / stove hood.

As a company, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

Sincerely,
Matt Rennick

Result:
Even though I’d bought the handle from a different supplier, Electrolux Home Products sent me a cheque for replacement handle, minus taxes and shipping. It was a nice gesture; I just hope that anyone unlucky enough to have a handle break on their Frigidaire product has the good sense to fight with them over it to avoid getting totally hosed, like I nearly did.

Frigidaire, thanks a lot for the money but as long as you’re charging your customers outrageous amounts of money for replacement parts, you still get the gas face.

Whos that peepin’ in my window?

POW! Nobody now!

I’ve been fiddling with a few bikes lately and one that’s been giving me a little trouble is Jordan’s “Laser Quest” which, despite my best efforts, kept throwing her chain which obviously is a bad thing to happen when riding in these mean streets. Eventually I got fed up and just swapped out the hollow / quick release axle for a nice solid axle with track nuts on it & a new BMX Cog. She’s been riding a lot nicer since and hopefully is making Jordan very happy – she just moved here from out of town so it’s nice for her to be able to get around quickly and safely.

Next up is this frankenbike (Toby’s old whip) we’re naming “Turbo Turbo” that a few of us have been working on for JD so hopefully within a day or two it’ll be on the street – I suspect that this front wheel needs an axle replacement as well so hopefully I’ll have time to grab parts and bang that out right away.

Late night ride to the Leslie Spit – we couldn’t really even see each other until the camera flash went off – kinda spooky but super fun. Shout-out to Erin from New Mexico (Grey Beater – Camo Cap) – he’s also new in town and is a super nice dude so if you see him rolling around on any of these: 1 2 3 go and say what’s up:

PS How much does this suck?

On Saturday night I went to see a buddy from work’s band play in Little Italy. When I was leaving to meet up with Ashlee this dude in the incoming lane decided to pull a ridiculous u-turn and almost ran me into the parked cars to my right. A group of us had been out earlier in the night and had been involved in a bit of an “incident” (which left some boys heading home to the ‘burbs in need of some body-work) so my temper was still running a little hot and I began to chase this guy down… When I got within a few feet of him I noticed that he had a huge Strike Anywhere sticker in the back window – black on black so you can’t really see it all that well from the outside. Ashlee used to drive a Ford Escape with a huge Strike Anywhere sticker on the back window… This was her old car.

The way I see it, I used to give Ashlee a hard time about driving an SUV and for a variety of reasons she eventually traded it in – the car must have somehow resented me so it came back and tried to take me out! Never, Ford Escape, you’ll never get me! Rot in hell!!!

In other news: look at these Jammers. Seriously, just look at them.

TO THE LIONS Cd Release show tonight @ Dee’s. I will be there in full mid-nineties garb including giant floorsweeper pants, my trusty pistons jersey, a headband / bandana & 3 or 4 krisnha choker necklances which will leave me looking like a Paduang woman. It’s going to be sick.

Preview the record: Baptism of Fire

UPDATE: Based on THIS, I’d say that tonight will be the last Kill Decibel show so make sure to come out and show some support for the boys. It’s been a good run, fellas.

We finished 1st going into the playoffs this season and unfortunately couldn’t pull it together in the semis so we finished 3rd in the finals – not bad but a little disappointing regardless. Looks like we may take the summer season off but come fall, we’ll be fully refreshed and ready to destroy!

Missing from the team pic are Chris “Rocket Man” Earp and Chris ” The Human Cataract” Slorach. What?

Scott Wade put up some photos of the day here