A companion to stevevance.net
I moved this blog to my self-hosted WordPress installation, on stevevance.net. I installed a fresh copy of WordPress 3.0.1 and enabled the WordPress Network (formerly known as WordPress Multiple Users). I will be migrating my “Steven can plan” blog there, too, and hopefully with a new, better looking theme.
Go to the new Odds and ends site.
A driver honked a couple times at me while we both waited for a red light to turn green. I was positioned in the center of the lane, in front of the driver and his car. I ignore honking most of the time, but I sometimes turn around to look at the honker to see if maybe something fell off my bike.
No, this driver pointed to the right. To me, he was suggesting that I move to the right. This would mean at least two things:
1. He wanted me to move towards the curb so that he could turn right on red, illegally turning right in front of a bicyclist.
2. He wanted me to move towards the curb, and when the light turned green, he would turn right in front of me (known as the right hook).
Neither scenario is legal or appropriate so I ignored his suggestion. Thankfully, neither his head nor his car exploded in anger and he was able to make a right turn, although 3.2 seconds later than he desired.
If you’re thinking about getting a Yuba Mundo and you live in a densely populated city, you better have the right personality to joyfully answer all the questions and discussions you’ll get because of the fun between your legs.
Here’s a sample of what people are saying about my bright blue Yuba Mundo:
Last week I was riding home at midnight through several “bar dense” neighborhoods. Someone in the backseat of a car stuck their head out the window in such a way as to not seem like they were not staring at me or the Yuba Mundo. I noticed and waved. It’s hard to ignore a wave and they waved back!
These are the specs for my Yuba Mundo, which Blue City Cycles, a local bike shop down the street from me, will build.
| Part Name | Part Description |
| Model | Frame and fork only |
| Frame | 26″/50 Mundo MP Hi-Ten 1 1/8″ w disc brake mount |
| Size | One size fits all |
| Color | Blue |
| Fork | included |
| Carrier | included |
| Headset | Ritchey Logic 1-1/8″ Threaded Black Headset |
| Brake (Front) | Need to inspect frame first (else Avid BB5) |
| Brake (Rear) | Need to inspect frame first (else Avid BB5) |
| Brake Lever (Pair) | Sturmey-Archer Canti Brake Lever Set |
| Brake Cables | Shop’s choice |
| Freewheel | Nexus 18 tooth cog, silver |
| Chainring | Dimension 110 x 42t BMX Chainring |
| Chain | KMC 410RB, Rustbuster, Silver |
| Crankset | Dimension 175mm Cross Crank Arm Set 110/74 Black. Includes Bolts |
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano UN54 68x113mm BB |
| Pedal | Dimension Cruiser Pedal with Slip Grip and Reflectors |
| Shifter (Front) | NA |
| Shifter (Rear) | Nexus 8-Speed Revo Shifter SL-8S20 (without brake lever) |
| Derailleur (Front) | NA |
| Derailleur (Rear) | NA |
| Derailleur Cables | Shop’s choice |
| Axle Adapter | Blue City Cycles solution |
| Hub (Front) | Shimano DH-3D72 Dynamo 36h Centerlock Front Hub |
| Hub (Rear) | Alfine SGS501 36h Disc brake 8-spd Internal hub black |
| Rim (Front) | Velocity Cliffhanger 36h Reflective Black, 26″ |
| Rim (Rear) | Velocity Cliffhanger 36h Reflective Black, 26″ |
| Spoke + Nipple | Velocity spokes (shop’s choice) |
| Tires | Schwalbe Fat Frank 26 x x2.35 Creme Wire (Order 2) |
| Tube + Rim Tape | Shop’s choice |
| Handlebar | Dimension Cruiser bar |
| Stem | Kalloy 1-1/8″ Adjustable Quill 110mm 90-150 Degree Black Forged |
| Grips | Oury MTN grip Blue |
| Seatpost | TruVativ Stylo Race 25mm Offset 27.2×400 |
| Seatpost Shim | 4.6mm shim, 27.2 seatpost to 31.8 |
| Saddle | B67 Single Rail Saddle Black |
| Seat Clamp | Kalloy Seatclamp & Bolt 31.8mm Black |
| Lights | Lumotec IQ Fly with complementing taillight |
| Bell | Not yet determined |
| Kickstand | http://yubaride.com/yubashop/30-stand-alone-kickstand.html |
| Fenders | Not yet determined |
| Stabilizer | http://yubaride.com/yubashop/31-deflopilator.html |
| Top-deck | 51-utility-deck.html |
I will be Chicago’s first Mundo owner, and perhaps the first owner of a Mundo with an internal gear hub.
It seems the key to page breaks (causing them or avoiding them) is to style your element with “display:block;”.
For example,
.listItem {
height:11em;
page-break-inside: avoid;
display:block;
}
Adding display:block fixed my page break issue and now the printer no longer cuts the list item.
Drive Less. Ride More.
Bike.
Lake Street Metra trains
Originally uploaded by Steven Vance
Taken from Lake Street on the west side of the Chicago River South Branch. Three Metra trains go in and out of the north platforms at Union Station (after traveling three blocks under streets and buildings).
Photos are here, here, and here.
The video has been sped up by 44% to fit within Flickr’s 90 second time limit and to be less boring.
On a snowy day. The snow was coming down slow and wet. I was riding my bicycle west on Lake Street out of the loop on a Friday afternoon at about 4:45 (rush hour!). I’ve always wanted to capture the trains at this interlocking but I don’t like going out of my way.
Well, this was on my way! I hope off the bike and sat my little point and shoot camera on the ledge here. In less than 10 minutes, at least five trains passed by. At one point, there were three trains crossing Canal Street.
Check out my gallery, Trains in Snow. A gallery is a set of other people’s photos.
Judging by how many bikes were parked outside, how many people were walking around the shopping area, and how many people were watching the presentations in another room, the first Bike Winter Swap Meet and Urban Bicycle Expo will be successful (it hasn’t ended as I write this).
My question is, though: How should we measure success? We think we have the ability to see a situation, concept, or event and say, "That’s successful." But the word means a goal has been accomplished. So what’s the goal here?
When I put together the June 2009 meeting for the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council (photos), I set an attendance threshold as a goal (my goal was 100 attendees, if I remember my final report, about 40 non-staff Chicagoans showed up).
I don’t remember the other two goals (the final report is at my office computer), but I think one had to do with receiving feedback from the attendees indicating they learned something at the meeting (I received about 26 surveys).
Howard, an organizer, said on ChiFG, "Visitor turnout exceeded our expectations– the name tags were actually what we used to get a visitor count (and to encourage entry donations)– we had well over 300 visitors and when you count the vendors, presenters, and volunteers we had around 450 people in attendance; at times you could barely get through the crowd in the swap areas; from about noon on the presentation room was packed."
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Steven Can Plan
When you buy a bike, do these things
Published June 2, 2010 Biking , Commentary 6 CommentsIf you frequent bike message boards, you’ll see tips on “what to do if your bike gets stolen,” but fewer messages and discussions about how NOT to get your bike stolen.
So what should you do to keep your bike yours?
As soon as you get your bike, do these things (and in this order):