Thank You, World Readers

On a whim I decided to check out my blog stats and to my delight I see that I have developed an international audience. Other than the USA, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to my cycling brothers and sisters in Turkey, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Canada, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, and all the other places I never expected anyone to be reading Flashblog. I would be delighted if some of you would leave a comment, who you are and where you are from. The power of the Internet is an awesome thing and to think I might be inspiring someone on the other side of the world is heady indeed. It really is.

Ride On, All Over The World

Flash

The 2011 State Of The Ride Speech

Flashblog HQ

My topic today, on this ominously gray and pre-stormy day is my State of the Ride Address, a dose of Flash Filosophy as it were. Most of us just do our rides, fewer of us write ride reports about them, most of us do not even comment, and this goes on seemingly ad infinitum, rinse and repeat. We have our interests, our goals, but we don't really say why or talk about them. People just do their things. This being Flashblog, I will endeavor to philosophize a bit as to where The Ride is for me. Simply because people don't talk about it much... not Bicycle Magazine, not Bike Snob NYC. I emphasize the me part, I don't presume to know other people's intents.

I see The Ride, so far, as being three distinct phases. Phase 1 is the beginner phase, which for most people lasts a year of so. Phase 1 is learning the ropes, improving rapidly, excitement over what you can do. Phase 2 is the “Proving It” phase, which can go on indefinitely. Phase two is all about exploring your power, pushing the limits, setting benchmarks, personal bests and the like. Phase 3 is after the goals are met, this is where I find myself now, and the phase I will attempt to describe.

(These Phases are not to be confused with my personal Incarnations, which are timelines in my cycling history. My First Cycling Incarnation was as a child and teen, the Second was in 1985-'91, the Third was 2003-April 2010, the Fourth was after April 2010, when I found myself pretty much starting over from square one. Not unlike when Jerry Garcia had a stroke, and when he came out of it, had to teach himself to play guitar again)

The Ride evolves, always. This is the thing that intrigues me. The Ride is like life in that we hopefully grow more experienced with each passing day; but sometimes we regress, and if we remain static, hopefully we see the same things in a slightly different shade of light of understanding. Perhaps even a molecule of wisdom shall reveal itself along the way. Gather those molecules together, and eventually you will form a Zeitgeist that seems to oversee your cycling life. You no longer need to try, it just happens.

My life is much changed from what it was five years ago; career, money, kids, health, security have all changed. I was forced to evolve or die. Evolution is hard, I am here to tell you, but the alternative is worse. There are numerous good things as well, such as my sitting here in Cafe Trieste on a Tuesday morning, watching a cafe full of people, anticipating the storm rolling in, gathering my thoughts over a cappucino and writing this blog. That was unheard of five years ago. Oh, believe me, I wished for it back then, but never thought it would ever transpire. I can say that about a lot of things.

I am a better rider than I was five years ago. Of course at that time I was only two years into my third cycling incarnation, and just beginning to gingerly explore group riding with Team Alameda. So that comparison is not even valid. Like apples vs. avocados. Both are fruit, but quite different.

Let me try this: I am a better cyclist now than I was in 2009, when I rode 5,500 miles, completed the Death Ride with some style, rode up Mt. Diablo 2.5 times one day with a raging headache, did Mt. Hamilton in record time (for me) and rode 200K in the rain at the Wine Country Century. That is a much stronger statement, and one that begs an explanation seeing as how I rode probably half that total distance last year with no event rides logged at all, all the while recovering from a heart condition. What I am talking about is the classic quality vs. quantity argument.

The explanation is that having gone through that Phase 2 crucible of fire and emerging upon the other side, I have a new appreciation and respect for my body; of what I had built it into as a cycling motor, of what high expectations I had of it, of how certain myths and heresays imbedded into the sport worked against me, of a new awareness of the inherent dangers involved, but most importantly, a new respect and admiration for my parts, which includes a lot of internal organs that can't speak for themselves until something goes drastically wrong.

Many people my age push themselves hard, as if the harder they push the more time will slow down. I am all for being the best you can be, within constraints. I wish to preserve my abilities as long as possible, to be riding when I am 85. So my new philosophy is restraint, withhold the last 20% of effort as a buffer for my body. I do not want to push my body or my heart to its limit any more than I want to drive my car's motor at red line. It's easy to say “That's not my issue, I ride hard so I am in great shape”. Yeah, I used to think the same thing. Its only when something breaks, and you start studying fat and alcohol and genetics and lifestyle choices that you realize that sure, you might have strong muscles, but the parts you can't see are going to hell in a handbasket due to a half century of ill-informed habits.

I'm a better cyclist because I pick and choose my efforts. If I don't feel like riding, I don't force myself to go out and train because I “should”. If I am tired and it seems more like a chore, I don't do it. I want cycling to be a thing I am up for, that I look forward to, not something that I have to do in order to meet arbitrary goals. It's working out well, I am able to ride with the form and strength that I feel is at the level of what I want to be doing right now. In terms of a ride, its something in the range of 2-3 hours of pedal time, 2-3 thousand feet of hills, somewhere in the 25-50mile range. I don't want to say its diminishing returns after that, but certainly the neck, ass, and other parts start complaining, as they have every right to. And it depends on what happens when I am out there, I may cut the ride short if I'm not feeling it, or make it longer if I'm really having a good session. I'm done with self criticisms, I remind myself that just being out on the bike is much more than the vast majority of people my age do, regardless of how short or easy the ride.

So people, having no idea where I am at, ask me what rides I am doing this year. Of course they are talking about event rides, centuries, benefits, fondos or what have you. The truth is, currently I have no inclination to do those sorts of rides and I can honestly say “ been there, done that”. For me it seems kind of pointless to repeat the Death Ride or do a century, just to do it. Having said that, I absolutely encourage you to do these things if they are on your list. For instance, my '08 and '09 Death Rides fulfilled my bucket list wish, a wish I had made back in the '90s when camping around Grover Hot Springs and accidentally finding myself amongst thousands of cyclists. Back then I thought it was an impossible dream, that I was too old, that I could never prepare for something like that. But I did, and many years later, accomplished that goal, and it will remain the Crown Jewel of my cycling career.

Having done those big rides, I find they are always with me. I often recall the good and the bad, and memory being what it is, the bad, in time, also starts seeming like the good. The event rides of the past inform and strengthen the ride of today. They give you confidence, but they also act as seasoning as it were, they flavor the ride with subliminal suggestions, encourage exploration and new approaches.

These days I am much more about form than ultimate fitness. I strive to be an example of a serious, studied cyclist, quiet upper body, smooth pedaling form, an expert in traffic, yet friendly to other cyclists in their own stages of incarnation. It is a great thing to feel your own form. Its a feeling of perfect synchronization with the bicycle, a feeling of bottomless energy, a feeling of power, a feeling of being your personal best and serving as a rolling ambassador of our sport.

Bottom line is that I am grateful. Grateful that I have been given a second chance. Grateful that all my parts still work and I can continue riding into the indefinite future.

But most of all I am grateful that every time I go out on my bike, I get this feeling...a feeling that I am truly alive, in the fullest sense of the word. Its a wonderous thing this rare, ephemeral feeling. Its the antidote to the drudgery and mundanity of life, it's what keeps me going and gives me something short term to live for. Its hard to describe to people, what it means, or why it happens, but you know what it is my friend. This feeling becomes who we are.

Ride On,

Flash

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Evolution of My Fast Commuter/ Rain Bike

1991 Miyata 1400A aluminum bonded frame road bike, a rare bird

(Google analytics tells me that this post is my all-time most popular.  Hmmm.  So I've added some additional thoughts which will appear in red.  Flash 9/5/11)

You've probably noticed my Miyata coyly appearing in recent Oakland bike shop photos, and usually these have been gray or wet days. As my Number 2 ride, I've set this bike up for wet conditions, but also for long, faster commutes and or/errands. Its not a hit or miss thing, it's an evolution that has taken a few years to come to fruition. I'd like to share some insights with you.

I feel it is almost imperative for a serious cyclist to own a rain bike. Wet roads throw up huge amounts of grit and debris that cover your chain, make glass stick to your tires causing numerous flats, cause your brakes to create black grime on your wheels and rims, seize your headset bearings, throw dirty muddy water up your back and into your expensive shoes, and sometimes you find your frame tubes actually fill with water. Do you really want to sandpaper your nice expensive road bike with all this dirt--- the true enemy of all machinery?

A good rain bike should be a bike that is nice enough to want to ride, but also one you don't care all that much about getting dirty. If it's a crap bike to start with, then you won't want to ride it, rain or shine. The bike is a personal choice, some folks want upright steeds they can wear their street clothes on, others, like myself want to retain a road racing bike- like feel and performance. I have a Dutch bike ( see last Autumn's Flashblogs) and have ridden it over 20 mile rides and it is just not fun over more than 10 miles. It is stout, slow, with one very dignified upright position. It basically has one appropriate flat gear and even that is not right, it is a tooth or two too high, and the low gear is just too low. The high gear? Only useful on downhills. The slow ride, the ride position, the lack of proper cadence rules the Dutch bike out as a long commuter. Around town it is a nice bike indeed, but for distance work I choose a road bike as the handling, gearing and speed satisfy my needs.

This Miyata has the nice feature of being aluminum, so I don't have to worry about frame rust, but even if you get a steel ride, it would take many years for the frame to rust out so don't worry about it too much. Just make sure you like the way the bike fits and rides.

First thing to do is to get some fenders. Fenders are simple devices that do one thing: keep gritty, grimy water off of you and your drivetrain. The difference in the rain is a godsend. Your butt and back stay clean, your chain stays clean, your shoes stay clean, your riding buddy behind you stays clean. Your wheels get the brunt of it and they get really dirty. Notice that I took my black Planet Bike fenders and painted them yellow. I personally like the purple and yellow color mix, but more importantly, I did it for safety, so on a rainy day the bike will be seen by motorists. I also put white reflective tape on the fenders, even on the rear. Why white? Because it is much brighter than red---I want them to see me.  I remove the fenders after the rainy season for aesthetics, I like the racing bike look without them.  It takes me all of 15 minutes to remount them in the autumn, so its not a big deal at all.

Second, get some kevlar tires. You can pay a lot for these, such as Specialized Armadillos at $50 per, or you can go cheap like I did and pay $10 for Performance City K tires. They have two minuses and one plus. They are a bitch to put on, and they are harsh rollers. The good thing is they never flat. Ok, in several thousand miles, one time I had a wire penetrate and make a slow leak. These things are bombproof and that is just what you want in the rain, because you don't want to be fixing a flat on the side of the road in the rain, you just don't.  I'd like to again emphasis that the ride is rougher with these tires.  Partly due to my old design frame which lacks vertical compliancy, but more due to the stiff rubber.  I don't even notice it on the flats, but on faster downhills the harshness is amplified.

Third, get some lights, front and rear. In rain conditions lights will make you more obvious, and at night they are mandatory. Lights these days are small and bright, put them into flashing mode for more obviousness. Is that a word----obviousness?  The more lights the better.

U-lock detail. This is a good mounting position that keeps the lock free of pedaling rotations. I tried mounting it on the top tube but my thighs rubbed the mount which was quite uncomfortable. A piece of velcro tape keeps the lock from swinging out.

Once your bike is setup for rain, then you are just a few steps away from automatically having an all around commuter. Sure, almost any bike can become a commuter, but do you want to ride your Dutch bike to Berkeley and back everyday? My Kaptein Dutch bike weighs in at 42lbs without a lock or water bottle, it only has 3 speeds, none of which ever seems like the right speed, and goes like a tugboat. The Miyata, as outfitted with full water bottle, weighs in at an even 30 lbs. A lot of that weight is water and U-lock, loaded tool bag, and fenders.  The difference between 20lbs and 30lbs is not felt nearly as much as the difference between 30lbs and 50lbs!  Keep this in mind when choosing your rain bike.

I tried hauling the U-lock in a backpack. along with other stuff. It didn't feel good on my neck at all, especially after 20 miles or so. Much better to let the bike carry it.  On that note, you could easily install a rear rack to carry the lock and that day's load.  Put a box or pannier on the rack and you are set.  I use a backpack on this bike for aesthetics I suppose.  My Dutchie has full rack and panniers on the rear and they are very useful.

My concept of a fast commuter or errand getter is that you must be willing to park it outside in full public view. Just a fact of life, if you are going to have an all around bike there are times you cannot park it in your office or protected space. So thus you need a U-lock. A cable will not cut it. Or should I say, they will cut your cable, count on it. The other day I pedaled an errand over to Best Buy in Emeryville, where there is a bike rack out front of the store. I selected an end position, took off the front wheel and moved it to center position, put helmet strap there too, locked the whole thing together, and felt good about it. I did not remove the computer, pump, or lights, so those could have been ripped, but they weren't this day. They could have taken my quick release skewers, and I would have been screwed, or more precisely, skewered, so I need to focus on that security issue as well, but the main thing is not to lose the bike.

The cockpit view, light, bell, computer, map clip. The bell comes is very useful on bike paths.

The Miyata as outfitted for spring and summer without all this stuff, and with good tires, handles like a dream, is super fun to ride, and is a good climber when my legs are in condition for its bigger gears. With all the extra equipment it does ride heavier, but the nice handling still comes through and the fun is still there.

This is what the tool bag carries: 2 tubes, patch kit, tire levers, 2 kinds of boots, Arnica tablets for injuries, a paper clip, and the Park MB3 Rescue Tool

I know what you are thinking..."Hey Flash, if your tires are so bulletproof, then why are you carrying 2 extra tubes, boots and a patch kit?" They are for you, when you ride beside me, my friends.

The Park Rescue tool features 3 detachable sections including a chain tool! Everything a Wheelman needs to fix his machine...Allen wrenches, box end wrenches, slot and Phillips drivers, knife, tire tool, spoke tool, Torx driver, chopsticks, and brass knuckles

So there you have it...only 8 additional pounds of accessories and fluids can make all the difference in how you plan your daily commute or errand running. You can jump in the car and fight traffic to go get that wireless router, or you can swing your leg over your bike and get some healthy benefit from an otherwise tedious errand. My 15 mile round trip to Best Buy only took an hour and fifteen minutes of pedal time, only 25 minutes more than a car trip, and I felt a good sense of accomplishment having covered all my bases, whatever comes my way.  I recently rode this bike on a 25 mile tour of San Francisco, many hills including Twin Peaks, fully outfitted as described except for the fenders, and had a great day.  Proof of concept.

Ride On,

Flash

Oakland's Newest Bike Shop of 2011

Ok, technically it opened in Autumn, 2010, but with the Holidays and all it is virtually new. I admire how they changed the original Wesley Cleaners sign to look original, even copying the font, leaving intact the rich story of this storefront and its relationship to its neighborhood.

Welcome Dear Flashblog Reader, to a new year of Flashblog. I resume where I left off last year, which is chronicling every bike shop in Oakland. I still have a ways to go if you can believe that...one thing just leads to another. Today I bring you Homespun Bicycles, over on the Lakeshore Drive side of Lake Merritt. I heard about Homespun through word on the street, which is typically how I am getting my leads these days. Word on the street is good, my friend, and Homespun is something of unusual fare as it surfs the current zeitgeist of a rocky economy, recycling, alternative transportation, the greening of our lifestyles, appreciation of artisanal crafting, and a touch of classic New Age marketing thrown in for balance.

Your hosts at Homespun, Jessie and Ami, this is their baby

If you go to their website, you'll find their establishment labeled "city garden and bike shop". What they have done is combined their interests into a one stop, go-to urban oasis for organic gardeners who ride their bikes everywhere, perhaps carting around boxes of earthworms while dreaming of new home brewed beer formulas. It is getting back to the earth in its various forms. I myself can relate. A few years ago I pulled out my front yard lawn, composted it for a year, then planted a recession garden. The response from the neighborhood was hugely positive, and some parents even toured their kids over to show them what real food growing from the ground looks like. It was greatly empowering for me to make this change, and I'm sure many other people are ripe for the change, all they need is some guidance. So Homespun offers workshops in various natural living disciplines as well as fixing people's bikes.

A doorway view of the mainspace, all furniture including stairs and loft built by Jessie and Ami, mostly using recycled or resourced wood. The current bike selection is as they say, pre-owned and lovingly reconditioned.

This interesting display features an inside the box planter and an above box display of tinctures and lotions such as "Cloud of Protection"

This repurposed piece of wood has become a prep table for organic foods and brewery workshops. The sink drains into a gray water basin.

Oh so cute iPad cubby where the proprietors can read the newest edition of Flashblog

Saddle and bags become artwork

Overall the vibe is very mellow, the Feng Shui flows easily. Personally I love what they have done in the realm of building with recycled woods, their sense of art informed by a sense of experience beyond their years. Jesse and Ari are easily accessed and are genuinely enthused about growing their neighborhood into a showcase of sustainability.

A beautiful Italian Falcon restored by Ami

Homespun is right off Lakeshore at Brooklyn, just a half block east of the lake. Ride on over and say Flash sent you.

Ride on my friends,

Flash

Bike Shops of Oakland part 2

Click pic for satellite view of storm front

So the time of winter storms is upon us, which gives us the choice of staying inside, wishing we could ride, and going through withdrawals, or just going out and riding, "damn the torpedoes!" as it were. Today I chose the latter, and I did pay for it as I did get dumped upon intermittently, but I think you will agree that it was worth it, as I bagged another little known bike shop today, Bike Rollup, tip of the helmet to Savanna for this bit of bike lore.

Your soggy blogger taking shelter at the Crab Cove lavatory

Despite the rain and wind, which downright encouraged the Crab Cove kite surfers, I pressed on into Oakland via Fruitvale, made a right on E. 12th, and rode the few blocks south until just past High St. where I found this place, Bike Rollup, which is located in the Vulcan work/live space building. Luckily it was open for business, and the industrial space within the roll up door was full of bikes and parts, and two employees, one of which is:

Two Wheel Tony

I took advantage of the free chat offered on the back of their business card and gave Tony my Flashblog introduction, showed him the website, and then talked bikes. He admired my Miyata then showed me his sweet '82 Cannondale road bike in a shade of purple I've not seen before.

Bike Rollup specializes in fixing and restoring used bikes, my kind of place. I was shown the "before" or incoming beaters and then the "after" restored rides on the floor. Tony was proud of his work on one sunburst orange cruiser where he removed a heavy coat of rust to reveal the glorious paint beneath. Tony also taught me the proper term for those sick scraper bikes made from BMX frames mounting 700c wheels. They're called "donks". That one word made my day.

Tony is also a bicycle themed artist, and showed me his nicely done hand drawn renderings of chicks on bikes. This must be the art gallery portion of the shop.

All kinds of bikes ready to move for Festivus.

Go to their website and you will see they have a generous education discount for both students and teachers. I gathered they are passionate about giving back to the community. The vibe here is authentic bike love, semi-industrial, open and airy. They also host something called a "bike joust" now and then, something I would like to witness but not participate in. If you at all consider yourself part of the local bike culture or just a witness thereof, do make the time to stop by Bike Rollup.

My Bike Shops of Oakland project is picking up steam as I get turned onto more people, things, and places to check out. Its like the proverbial rolling snowball. Oakland as it turns out has a great wealth of bike commerce and culture, enough to keep a blogger like me cruising back and forth all over town for some time to come.

Bay Area Bikes

Bay Area Bikes' main store on 2424 Webster St.

Now I take you to Bay Area Bikes' main store on Webster, right in the old auto row area. As opposed to its Jack London Square counterpart, this is a large store with a unique feature: the wrenching area is in a loft on the second floor. I assume all bike must be lugged up the stairs cyclocross style. Extra workout!

The midweek day I visited was quiet, and I was greeted by Dale who works the floor. I explained the Flashblog thing I was up to, and he was agreeable. Soon, one of the owners came out, Glenda, and she graciously gave up some time to chat with me. She said the other owner Clay would be very sorry he missed me. So, I will go back to meet him for sure. The vibe in here is mellow, a great spectrum of bikes, perhaps more than at other shops. Workman bikes, a Big Dummy, a Raleigh steel lugged road bike, Giant types, and many others at good discount prices I might add.

Dale and Glenda

You too can ride like BikeSnobNYC with your very own Big Dummy

Small bike...big milk crates...very cool!

This intriguing organic creation rolled in while I was taking photos. Note its massive tubes compared to the noodley oldschool Flashcycle next to it

The brand name is Stalk, like the plant part

Lars

So, upon close inspection of the bamboo bike, I struck up a conversation with its owner and builder, Lars Jacobsen. Lars is one third of the Stalk frame building team, home based here in Oakland. He revealed that the lug material is dyed sisal reinforced with carbon, and the frame is polyurethane coated. He built this himself, and I half to admit a burning desire to emulate him and do one myself. Check out his website. It is Flashblog's stated goal to investigate this organic frame trend, and Lars shall be my conduit.

So via this blog, my friend JFR recommended BAB at Jack London, where I met Savanna, who told me about their other shop which is good scoop in itself, but once there, I encounter Lars, who may open the door to a magical mystery tour of the frame building subculture. Awesome!

Bike Station, Fruitvale BART

As the non-named storefront outside implies, Bike Station Fruitvale is a bike service and free parking service located at Fruitvale BART plaza, and run under the auspices of our very own Alameda bicycle philanthropist Gene Oh, of Alameda Bicycles. Gene also runs the Bike Station Berkeley and Embarcadero in SF, both also located at or inside of the transit stations. Fruitvale is a personal favorite of mine as the parking service is invaluable to the non-automotive transit alternatives. Ride your bike to the station, park it, ride BART to your destination, repeat, then ride home. It really is awesome and does more to encourage biking than just about any other service I know of. Nobody would bike to the BART and leave their bike locked outside. Just one look at the bike rack outside tells a ghastly tale of disemboweled bikes, only their locked frames remain to rust in the elements.

As well, BSF can do repairs or tune ups on your bike as you toil away in your cubicle in SF, so a fresh bike awaits you upon return. That's something to look forward to.

So that's if for this segment. Still to come, even more bike shops in Oakland, including a brand new shop in a neighborhood you would never suspect, only mentioned by a very few in the know. The few that shall soon be swelled by you, the Flashblog readers. Stayed tuned and check back soon.

Ride on my friends,

Flash

I See Dead People

I finally made it to see the controversial Body World exhibit, now showing at the Tech Museum in San Jose. I remember the first time I saw an image of Body World, and how blown away I was by creator Gunter Von Hagen's vision of...of...of....what? Von Hagen, a pathologist, created methods by which formerly living organisms can be "plastinated". His organisms of choice are expired specimens of Homo Erectus, but he also works with lesser Kingdoms as well, often combining the two, such as a horse with rider---that one was three years in the making.

After all, this is a bicycling blog so consider this image

(click photos for enhanced anatomical details)

Upon entering the exhibit, you are directed amongst angular black paneled partitions featuring modern art ceramic body shapes, then you notice the ambient space music in the background, but mostly you notice that the nervous excitement of the patrons lining up to get in has been replaced with a reverent silence, or if not silence, then hushed respectful tones. There is a collective unspoken agreement among everyone present that results in a church-like atmosphere in which everyone speaks in muted tones. What is going on here? I don't know, I'm not Dr. Freud. But some people don't seem to get it; two young women in purple medical school garb giggled and laughed, touched the figure and dared each other to smell it up close. Please people, I mean, really.

Von Hagen's work, as you might guess, has elicited controversy. There is the question of desecration of the dead, is it or isn't it? Religion thus comes into play. In some sense is Von Hagen playing God? It is up to the individual to decide, but my guess is that those attending these exhibits have already made up their minds. The plastinations have been set by Von Hagen in artistic poses ranging from the sublime to the bizarre, to the downright ghastly. Many of these bodies have had their tissues flayed in creative ways, with the skin, muscles and other viscera flying off the bones as if blown by an invisible tornado. It's an unsettling effect, and I found it mostly distracting, but it is a means to reveal the underlying layers of vessels, nerves, organs and other undefinable things. Even more unsettling is the technique of slicing the bodies into vertical sections and then pulling the sections away at angles. This is very strange when done to the head, and heads are a very popular item in Herr Hagen's world.

Von Hagen's artistic anatomical poses usually depict the body in exercise or sports; dancers are well represented in this exhibit, but having done that ad infinitum, he has pushed the artistic envelope with his latest "cycles of life" concept (a very different exhibit not on display here) which chronicles the cycle of life from birth to death. In this exhibit theme, infants are on display along with a pair of cadavers which are depicted in the throes of (one would hope in a great leap of faith) consensual sex. I kid you not, images of this Banned in Berlin exhibit are easily revealed by a popular search engine. The whole point of Body Worlds is to reveal all the inner workings of the body, various diseases, poor lifestyle choices and the like in an effort to break through preconceptions and present a New Truth. These are not people having sex, these are plastinated formerly flesh forms posed in erotic representations. The utter lack of soul on display only serves to help us get in touch with our own soul more succinctly. It was banned as blasphemous in Europe but I would have liked to have seen it.

Interestingly, security is tight concerning photography---photography is banned and taking a photo will get you booted out. I asked a Tech Associate why this was and he offered a weak explanation about respecting the dead, that they didn't sign up, or didn't sign releases to have their pictures taken. (but they did for eternal coitus with strangers?) I'm sure this is more about selling their book of Body World Images at the Body World Gift Shop everyone must pass through on the way out. So these two images here are courtesy of our friends at Google. (and now a word from this blog's sponsor...)

Google---we know everything. About you. Trust Google.

A similar, but slightly different dancing couple can be found at the Tech Museum.

So what did I get out of this? Actually, quite a lot. There is a ton of useful health information to be had here about smoking, eating choices, and heart disease. Smoker's black lungs are exposed in all their gory. Plaque encrusted arteries are displayed. A whole photodocumentary on ethnic vs. typical American eating habits speaks volumes. There are incredible displays that are almost unbelievable, such as a human head composed of nothing but thousands of blood red vessels. But mostly what I got from this is what a magnificent machine my body is. Only when you can see the innermost workings displayed in all their incomprehensible intricacies can you appreciate how seemless and effortlessly the whole body works to accomplish what we ask of it. It makes me want to treat my body as a temple, to examine each bite of food I put into it, to treat it as best I can to make it last as long as possible in highest working order.

"To enjoy life fully treat your body like a finely tuned instrument".

"Treat your body with respect, it's the only place you have to live".

Truly, one of the most amazing exhibitions I have ever seen. I highly recommend you see this once.

*******

Lastly, on the lighter subject of Deadheading, as it were, the Grateful Dead once made an album called "Infrared Roses". (smooth segue) If you've ever wondered, as I have, what Flash's heat signature looks like, wonder no more:

Flash's overheated brain belies his overall cool

That's it for now and as always,

Ride On my friends

Flash

Project 510: Oakland Bike Shops

Your investigative reporter in action uncovering the secrets of "Oaktown"

(click on images for Flashemehscopic large views)

Welcome. I've been riding around Oakland quite a bit this summer. I have a weekly meeting in the northerly, upscale Rockridge part of town which is perfect motivation to get on my bike and explore to and from said district, and I've found many interesting things and enjoyed many a pleasant ride through this media-maligned urban fur ball of a town. Its a nice place to visit during daylight hours, and really, the worst parts have nothing in them to attract me anyway so I won't be going there.

My last post started a self-motivated inquiry into bike shops of Oakland, my goal being to visit each shop personally until all the shops are known to, well, myself, and now to you, the Flashblog reader. It goes without saying that each shop has its own personality. That personality starts at the curb....curb appeal, as it were, and then the interior ambiance, and not least, the friendliness of the staff. A defining tenet of my project is, of course, to visit each shop via bicycle and act as an Ambassador of Alameda, our moated, bridged island of right thinking Americana, which, without the moat and bridges, might have been just another piece of Oakland. I am not saying which shop I think is "best", for that is subjective, and besides, I'm not qualified to say who is best because I don't even use shops all that much as I do most of my own wrenching and use a lot of recycled parts. So consider this a guide, and I encourage you to visit these places and make up your own mind. So without further adieu, here are six shops for your edification.

Manifesto on 40th Ave.

Minimalist storefront dresses a minimalist sized shop, it's small and narrow. Relatively less bikes but of high quality. Emphasis on fixed gears. Highest award for themed store window displays, the Halloween display was, ahem, killer. I need to go back here to meet the staff which seemed helpful to the other patrons, as I was just "looking around" that day.

Marty from TeamAlameda, after reading the blog, had this to say about Manifesto's owners:

"Great blog post, as usual, Flash.

The Manifesto shop is owned by a couple we know - Pamela used to work with the wife, and we attended their wedding. The wedding was a great bicycling oriented affair, with guests asked to arrive by bike at the site, the Camron-Stanford House at Lake Merritt. After the ceremony, the bride, groom, and guests all paraded (on bikes, of course) over to Jack London Square for drinks. After drinks, we all rode to the Children's Art Museum across from Cost Plus, where the reception was held - food was catered by a taco truck. It was an AWESOME wedding.")

The Manifesto web site is http://wearemanifesto.com.

Tip Top, 48th and Telegraph.

Larger than Manifesto, but shares the same minimalist storefront thinking, I missed this shop on the first pass, only the bikes out front gave it away on the second pass. Inside is a different story, more bikes, and most interesting is the out in the open mechanic's work area adjoining the display room. Usually the tool jockeys are sequestered in the rear, out of sight, but not here, I went right up to them and started a conversation. Tip Top is the only shop I know of that takes old tubes and tires for recycling. YES! Pleasant staff, if I lived around here I would definitely use this shop. Did I mention they be HELLA OAKLAND?

Pioneer Bicycles, Rio Vista off of Piedmont Ave.

From the outside, this shop has an ancient hardware store vibe to it. The extensive jail bars window treatment speaks volumes, and this is a nice part of town. Inside, there exists an array of new and old bikes and a sense that time has stood still here, or at least time exists at a different speed. This is my kind of shop, with loads of stuff everywhere, bikes all over the place, and Creedence playing on the radio. The shop owner and sole employee is Edmond, a nice guy who has run the shop for around 15 years if I recall correctly. This place is definitely a find and I will return here for sure to dig up more stories in the near future.

Edmund, the boss of Pioneer Bikes, in his element.

Montano Velo, Piedmont Ave.

This is the shop to go to for eye candy, yes sir. My favorites are the Pegorettis, then the Pinarellos, then the old 50's antique road bike hanging in the middle of the store. This shop appears to have all the palmares for high end road bike geeks and track guys, but they also sell low end Bianchis and work on ordinary bikes. I've purchased a bottom bracket and tasteful Arundel stainless bottle holders for my Lemond here. The feng shui here is unsurpassed---it is a bit like Tip Top in that the mechanics are out in the open and accessible, and there is even a sidewalk couch to sit on. Note the vending machine for power foods out front. Flash's highest rating for ambiance.

CycloSports, Grand Ave.

The most visually under-the-radar shop of the legit shops, this place is almost subterannean. Note it is below street level in a non-descript building, and the tree out front hides the name of the place. Lots of quality bikes, I've stopped here for small purchases, notably tire patches which they sell by the piece. Nice vibe here and if I recall, some "open air" wrenching going on the floor as well. Another shop that I need to stop in for an extended chat with the staff.

Wheels Of Justice, Montclair

WOJ easily takes the Best Name for local bike shops as the literal meaning is cool enough, but the double meaning is that the owner is named...Justice. And a really nice guy he is too. This shop recently moved south a few doors down to the corner where the feng shui is improved.

WOJ is the only shop half way into the hills, so for many mechanical issues that arise while cycling the hills, this shop is the go to place for repairs or parts.

Bay Area Bikes, rental store Jack London Square

On the advice of my French Canadian amigo Jean-Francois, I stopped by Bay Area Bikes today in Jack London Square. This shop takes the prize for closest to the water, as it is on the edge of the estuary. I had passed by here before but always found the shop closed, as it is mostly a weekend operation this time of year. But today it was open for business, so I wheeled on in an met the helpful and friendly Savanna working the rental desk, for BABs at this location is primarily a bike rental outlet. I came in at a quiet time so I was able to talk with her at length about the shop, blogging, and other bike shops/ events in Oaktown.

Savanna at Bay Area Bikes

Turns out she is a fountain of information, and I was scribbling down all the info she was throwing out. The bikes here are all rentals---by the hour, day, or longer. There are some lubes, tools, and other things available here, along with seasonal Xmas tree decorations---bike cogs on clips. Nice. Savanna enlightened me to the second Bay Area Bikes location on Webster st. at Broadway in Oakland, a mysteriously rumored new shop by the lake, and even more...so more places to Flash over to. More on these soon.

Hank and Frank, Rockridge near Berkeley, through a moist camera lens

From their website: Hank & Frank Bicycles was established over 80 years ago! We have held onto some of the best mechanics in the bay area. Our mechanics represent over 70 years of combined experience with the ability to repair all brands and styles of bikes. http://www.hankandfrankbicycles.com/

Hey, thanks for reading, and check back here as I update the page with even more Oaktown shops. As always,

Ride On, my friends.

Flash