Contact Sport

Many have criticized the cycling industry for marketing road cycling as a kind of "extreme sport". I can see many types of Mountain biking easily fitting into this label, even Cyclocross. Shit that is generally a hazard to your well being! Until recently I would have countered the notion of road cycling as an extreme sport, but I now realize, the cycling industry has it all wrong.

So extreme!

  The real extreme part of road cycling is urban cycling, which includes commuting. Aside from the occasional jostle, bumps, and the most unfortunate crashes, road cycling isn't as "extreme" as many X-game sports (and is rightly excluded). I always seem to unconsciously put far more intense music into my "Almost Hit Series"(videos showing my commuting in the streets) than my "Shut Up Legs Series" (videos of my group rides). The tamest urban cycling video I have is "Filters", but to be fair, it is a very sanitized video of my commute, showing the good times.

More like the fun times!

  So why is this? The simple answer is urban cycling produces some hairy situations because of all the variables thrown into the soup that is driving in Miami. Road cycling, in a group though, not so much, it is far more controlled, and there is a certain etiquette to maintain. What this means is, the music I select is more reflective of the video's feel. So sure the videos may be more entertaining, but every bad encounter with a driver may put my life at risk. It is a delicate tightrope I maintain between riding on the dangerous main streets ( which get me from A to B faster) and sticking to the side streets ( usually tacking on 15 to 20 minutes to my commute). I try to make these videos as a kind of awareness, keeping it interesting to viewers, but I fear it comes off as pursuant. We all love some dramatic encounters with others of our species...

Hardly....

As safe as I try to ride, it seems (regardless of my intentions) that bad drivers also seem to be the angriest ones, hell bent on raging if you try to confront them. I am not even sure if this is reaching a wide enough audience, and by the statements of MDPD's Chief, they seem to have more disdain than care for cyclist. I do not expect help and certainly not enforcement from them. 

It's not easy being a cyclist

There is no redemption out on these streets. Even with a camera and reports filed, there's no punishment for these drivers. I can just hope their License plates being broadcast for the world can give me some solace. In order of appearance, FCH-043, BRG-P58, BCT-Y28, ICW-562, and X50-4GG, if you see them, give them the only finger that matters, for me.

Come get some...

Everyday Grind

  There is something about breaking a spoke on a ride that brings an interesting mix of horror, shame, and confusion. It's a simple thing that makes sense to break but it's a cost to fix unless you have the right tools. No novice or new cyclist has these damned tools. You aren't going to get that spoke fixed unless it broke on the right side or on part of the wheel that isn't near your cassette.

The hell is going on with this thing?

  It seems as if I am always at Cycleworld. I was even asked if I wanted a campfire; I just needed to know who I should pay rent to. This made me take a hard look into my finances and, as much as I enjoy supporting my local bike shop, I am just an art teacher, not actually a profession one gets rich whilst doing. So, with a can-do attitude, I purchased my own chain whip and cassette wrench to assist in further spoke problems...

Maybe I should invest in a motorized vehicle, and give little fucks about lights?

   Sure enough, a week later I utilized my tools when not one, not two, but three spokes needed to get replaced; two in the back and one in the front. The look on the mechanic's face when I came in for more spokes...Well, it was the same look of disbelief that I was sporting. 

Dammit Phil, this wheel set is costing more than it is saving...

   I figured it out soon enough to get my baby up and running for the next day's group ride. The process was a bit of an experience to get everything working; so much so that I left it to the professionals at Cycleworld Miami to double check that the wheels were good to go. 

Looking back, I really should stay off the sidewalk....

Thanks again to Cycleworld Miami and to all the mechanics that took time out of a very busy day assisting triathletes to tend to my wheels! If you like this or any of the other posts, don't forget to follow, like, or even comment! Look forward to a couple of group rides down the pipe and an "Almost Hit" highlight. This one is very dodgy, too! Until next time!

Coming soon!

Window Service

  The thing about being a cyclist in Miami, is the never ending shitstorm, that is the drivers, in this city. I have even been so cynical, and bitter, that my friends are starting to worry. Well, shit, I guess it is high time I let these driver's know how I feel.  Even ran into a police officer, and well, he was just as ignorant.

My face when the Internal Affairs Department tells me I cannot complain about an officer's conduct, behind an advocacy group... "TravellingDirtbags", I would need to come in to the station myself and present the video... Sounds like a trap...

Well aside from the new video, I have a couple of other edits down the pipe, so stay tuned for that stuff. Also make sure to rate and subscribe to the video or even leave a comment if you liked it or even disliked it.

Not this time asshole...

A pleasurable ride to the beach without my GoPro! Oh the the ridiculousness and the fun! Look how wacky this sign is WOAHH!

Some of the most touristy crap we got here in Miami

Stop Last

When I first set out on my bike, I was a hefty 230 pounds. I could barely run for 5 minutes straight and getting around on the bike was a planned affair. To traverse the 3 miles on my commute to work would take a grueling hour, not to mention the massive bag I lugged around that slowed me down. I was constantly on the sidewalk ruining my fragile Fuji "Adonis".

...He has seen some shit

In the one year since I've started cycling, I have done two long tours: one to the Everglades National park and the second to Key West, which sent me to the hospital. Now, with more than a year's biking experience behind me, I can pedal 7 miles in 30 minutes while taking it easy and I can crush 3 miles in 10.

Video of the Everglades tour

Everglades! 

Currently, I stick to the road to preserve my steed, "Phil" Jamis. Commuting on the roads day and night has given me a totally different and unbecoming challenge here in Miami. It is one in which both officials and citizens seem completely apathetic and uncaring to; one I didn't realize as a driver myself. Cycling is looked down upon, scorned, and, depending on your bumper sticker, hated...

Mmmm cheeky...

Only once in my entire time cycling did I ever witness a driver getting pulled over after passing way too close. When I caught up to the officer, the driver was getting a ticket, not for endangering my life, but for illegally sharing the lane next to me with another car. I was the catalyst, but not the reason for the infraction. The officer argued that he may pass and that what he did was not illegal. When I countered with the 3 foot clearance rule, he disregarded it. This is a problem.

The Good ole days before my GoPro 3

I feel like this blog really isn't changing much and I have no idea how to move ahead. I guess the best thing I can do is record these license plates, send them to the proper authorities, and post them online. Is this a solution? No, but it is illumination, shedding some light on many who cannot afford a car payment, or, like me, want to be healthy and hate the hassle of a car. The solution is hard; it will take time and take convincing. We will need infrastructure, but for now education will have to spearhead the change. 

TL;DR: More bike lanes, I am healthier because of cycling, and 3 feet PLEASE!!!

Until next time!

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Death, Adventure, Cycling, and Chemicals

  Well I am no longer sick but here is what I did over the holiday season and recovery. Also, living in southern Florida has afforded me a wonderful year round cycling season, I have to admit I have never seen snow, and as of yet, have no plans to.

Underarmor and LEVIS Commuters jeans

Before I became deathly ill, (and yet not deathly enough to endear the sweet release of death). The better half and I, went to and explored the largest lake in Florida, Lake Okeechobee. 

finish what you started douche bag

  I don't really blame Death though, as every cyclist in Miami knows, if you make it to your destination riding a bike, you pretty much gave death the bird the whole way over. It honestly feels like a constant scene from "Final Destination" but you keep wiggling out of it, only making Death more determined. Every ride is like a metal song blasting into my soul, or a butt clenching potential shitstorm. Enough about bowels, onto the lake!

Sam being guided by the guardrail

  She decided to, one day, instruct me  to just drive into the northern part of the everglades, I continued to follow her directions and didn't ask too many questions. She didn't tell me where we were going until I saw the sign "Lake Okeechobee turn left", and couldn't help but notice, the whole drive up, how ill-marketed this lake is. I guess if we as a people visited this icon of Florida more often we would be far more concerned with the sugar cane plantations polluting our largest reservoir of fresh water. Eh, I guess we prefer our sugar like our politics, corrupted! 

The park around the lake

We found some state parks within the lake and hiked them, it was a bit on the late side, so not much wildlife. The trail was fun regardless and the setting sun against the reflecting lake was picturesque.  But we found a bunch of concerning things, a lot of trash and even some spent cartridges from a some rifles...  Didn't even know you could hunt here. We grew tired of walking, and headed back. All around it was a lovely day topped with amazing company. Then the holidays and this crazy cough/cold hit me, well after the New Year that is, Also I got a GoPro from my Mom and her family, now I can capture License plates in HD!

The best part of the party was editing it together

Did some tests and my first video utilizing the GoPro Hero3+, Really nice product and I hope to make some more upbeat videos with it. I know the whole "wow I almost died again!" can get old and worn, so I'll switch it up from time to time. But until I get that footage....

              There is no need to be upset

I also managed to purchase some vintage bikes from a good friend of mine, Matt. His family had a pair of 3 speed city bikes in his garage, little did I know the trouble I was getting myself into.

look at that trouble...

  That is what the inside of the rear wheel looks like. The thing has a freaking clutch, like a car or motorcycle does. Now I did a bit of research and it certainly looks more complicated than it is. I wanted to take apart the mechanism to clean and re-oil it. Now I am not so sure. Still I dipped all the rusted parts into rust removing solution and might repaint it. They both only need new cables and tires and for the most part are good to go.

she devil 

The hatchet is for camping... Promise.

This isn't even my final form

Still in the works is the second one which will be a whole hootenanny of a post, more DIY and steps I took, the red girl already is a getting a home so I am expediting  the process on her. While I was waiting on her parts to de-rust I turned my attention to a munch needed addition to Phil Jamis.

  A friend of mine sent me an awesomely beat up box all the way from the United Kingdom.

awesome, hope it wasn't fragile

Fenders for a racing bike! 

I have to admit I was a little skeptical of these guys, and until they are tested in Miami's monsoon like conditions I will remain skeptical. However they do look really cool. So while I was still sick and waiting for the rust to peel of the red bikes parts I installed these guys and took the time to re-wrap my bar tape!

 Phil Jamis with swaggy orange tape and sleek fenders

In all an interesting couple of weeks. With much work and much coughing i made it, more post to come, try subscribing or following! More to come!

Birth of a Cyclist

  My girlfriend does not know how to ride a bike. She just never got the opportunity and just never gave it a thought, until we met. After the elated experience and levitating joy she experienced riding the tandem bike with me, she became determined to learn. Today we gave it a go!

Muh bike "Phil Jamis"

  Sam started working on how to sit and how to properly control Phil, as well as mounting and dismounting. A lot of things that I took for granted and "just did" I had to explain and demonstrate. 

Getting a hand of getting a hand...

  She understood balance and she has done some "spinning" at the gym. However, getting the bike moving forward and the second foot on proved to be a major obstacle and frustrating.

Frustrated Sam^

  I tried gently pushing her forward to force her balance but it only made her nervous. We kept it slow but I felt we needed to get some momentum; I always figured the hardest part was starting the forward movement and that the pedaling would make her automatically balance. But when you live your entire life only knowing one form of human locomotion, getting accustomed to a whole new form will take a bit of training as I soon found out. Good thing learning and cycling are things she finds fun.

Look at all that fun!

After a few hours, it was time to take a break and grab lunch inside. While digesting some delicious homemade soup, we ran into my younger sister's chihuahua, Hershey. And this is what this balding female water rat was wearing.

"please end me"

Trudging on

  In the end, she didn't quite master it, and, unfortunately, we had to get ready to get some studying done. Sam went from not even knowing there are brakes on a bike to coasting balanced and not falling.  She may not be ready to join me on my next tour just yet, but she is definitely determined to learn and ride with me next time.

The runway...

-Carlos

Oct. 30, 2013, Justice at Last?

 On the ride home tonight I always have to take a main section of road, 117th St. for the most part I get buzzed  between Sunset Dr and Miller Dr. It is my least favorite place to ride, ever. Tonight however, some justice was served, I never got his name but thank you officer.

 Till next time! Follow and Subscribe!