2012 August | Tiny Fix Bike Gang

An Ode to Irony

Posted by KC on Aug 29, 2012 in Uncategorized | 3 comments

So I was biking down Logan last night after working an 11 hour shift at my blue collar fabrication job, with the intent of writing a Tiny Fix post on the proper way to fix all those jeans you’ve ripped to shreds from your bike seat, when I ran into a friend riding the other direction who invited me to come with him to go see Premium Rush. Now since I’ve been working 10-14 hour shifts at my very exhausting manual labor place of employment, I haven’t been able to see the movie last week and instead stare at pictures during my breaks from all the events that everyone else was able to attend. Naturally I pulled a U-turn and had a delightful time. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, it’s worth the $13 you’ll slap down on a ticket; not gonna win any Oscars but for someone who almost never goes to movie theaters, I was glad I saw it on the big screen.

When I got out of the theater and went to go unlock my bike from the bike pile she was all snuggled up in, I saw the saddest sight in the world: my front wheel was stolen. My shitty ass front wheel that was so out of true and was all rusted out and had barely survived the accident I had in April that nearly killed me, the wheel that I was planning to replace at the end of next month for my birthday, was gone.

The irony of the situation was not lost on me.

So here’s the classic ode to the bike wheel thief, I believe it sums up most of my feelings of the moment on the situation:

Between this happening, the 6o hour work weeks I’ve been draggin through for a while, living situation bullshit, and another sinus infection, this Tiny Fix girl could use a beer. Or four. And a new wheel.

Talent and What You Think is Pretty Have Nothing to Do with Each Other

Posted by Lorena Cupcake on Aug 29, 2012 in Advocacy | 4 comments

Micki Danielle Stephan

Someone recently pointed me toward Micki Danielle Stephan, who does flatland BMX and is also a model, knowing that I like to write about women in cycling. And then, in an offhand manner that was like a sucker punch to my gut, he added, “And she’s hotter than Elissa Steamer, too.”

Elissa Steamer

Elissa Steamer, who I wrote an article about a few months ago, was one of the first female pro skaters, period: the first to star in skate videos, the only one to ever appear in the Tony Hawk games. When I was writing that article, I thought about how groundbreaking she was, how relentless, how tomboyish-in-the-best-way, and how talented she was. I did not think for a second that she would be any more worthy of my admiration if she was conventionally super-attractive.

Why have you never heard anyone compare, say, Matthias Dandios and Joey Brezinski? Because one rides flatland BMX and one skateboards and those two things have nothing to do with each other. Because they’re men, and so their athletic ability is allowed to stand on its own.

Why were Micki Danielle Stephan and Elissa Steamer compared? Because they’re women. Because, subconsciously, most of us view a woman’s ability to be attractive as her most valuable, important, worthwhile skill, and anything else is secondary. Because all women are presumed, by men who are waaaaay too full of themselves, to be in competition with each other over who can be the most attractive to men.

Product Review: Giro Aeon Helmet

Posted by Lorena Cupcake on Aug 27, 2012 in Gear, Product Reviews | 0 comments

Photo By Kaitlyn Tierney

Weighing in 76 grams lighter than the Atmos, the Aeon is Giro’s new high end helmet for 2012. This thing is motherfucking pro, kids.

Now, I’m not here to debate wearing a helmet versus not wearing a helmet. It’s a personal decision, and I find people arguing about it incredibly boring. All I know is, with my track record of getting hit by a car at least once a year and complete lack of health insurance, I feel more comfortable wearing a helmet even if it’s only so I can wave off bystanders insisting I need an ambulance, limp home sans head injury, and numb my pain with whiskey.

However, I know that if my choices are riding around with a naked, vulnerable noggin and wearing a heavy, sweaty, dorky looking helmet….well, it’s a lot easier to wear a helmet that you love than a helmet that you hate and resent. Which is why I splurged on a helmet that costs more retail (which I did not pay*) than I paid for my bike frame.

Photo By Kaitlyn “Haitlyn” Tierney

I absolutely love this helmet. I took it out of the box and adjusted the straps so that they met right underneath my ears. I put it on my head. Ok, decent fit, a little wobbly. Then I reached back with one hand and tightened the Roc Loc 5 dial in the back, which adjusts not only how snugly it fits on the back but also along the sides. Holy shit. Not only does the helmet perfectly adjust to the size of your head-not loose enough to shift, not tight enough to be uncomfortable-it’s so incredibly light you can barely feel it. I can hardly tell it’s on my head when I’m riding, so why wouldn’t I wear it for every ride, every day?

Pros and Cons after the jump.

The Queer Quest Ride

Posted by Lorena Cupcake on Aug 13, 2012 in Events | 0 comments

The Queer Quest Ride meets up Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 7:00pm in Fellger Park at Damen and Belmont. After a recreationally paced ride (9-13 miles) it’ll end up at Hollywood Beach, so wear your rainbow bikini under your clothes.

Yo, throw off the sheets, flip on the beats, throw kicks on my feet, hit Hollywood Beach…Really, I just wanna chill with you, hold hands on the beach while we barbecue, ride a bicycle that’s built for two, and run my tongue all over your neck tattoo