phantom helmet syndrome

[Tom Keats]

I'm snowed in. But I still gotta get around
to do errands, which I typically and habitually
do by bike. So, intending to hoof it, I get
myself prepared to bravely step out into the
sub-zero winter wonderland we're currently blessed
with. I don my favourite baseball hat, and go to
do up the (nonexistent) straps.

The sensation is rather like climbing a staircase
in the dark, and mis-counting the steps, and the
last step you think is there ... isn't.


cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

 

[Werehatrack]

On Tue, 28 Nov 2006 21:22:04 -0800, [email protected] (Tom Keats)
wrote:

>I'm snowed in. But I still gotta get around
>to do errands, which I typically and habitually
>do by bike. So, intending to hoof it, I get
>myself prepared to bravely step out into the
>sub-zero winter wonderland we're currently blessed
>with. I don my favourite baseball hat, and go to
>do up the (nonexistent) straps.
>
>The sensation is rather like climbing a staircase
>in the dark, and mis-counting the steps, and the
>last step you think is there ... isn't.

Is that more embarrassing than reaching for the zipper on a pair of
sweatpants? Or trying to shift into 6th gear on a car that has a
5-speed box? Or stabbing for the clutch pedal with your left foot
when coming to a stop light in a car with an automatic? Or
*forgetting* to do so after getting back into the stickshift car for
the first time in several weeks? Or cruising right past the exit for
the street that you should have taken, because your usual route
through that area has no stops? Or reaching to flip on the light when
entering a room of a house where you know that the power has failed?
Or squeezing the pair of D-rings to release the strap of the
motorcycle helmet that you haven't worn in years because you don't own
a motorbike of your own anymore?

You're in good company. Or at least, I'd like the solace of thinking
so.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

 

[Zoot Katz]

On Tue, 28 Nov 2006 21:22:04 -0800, [email protected]
(Tom Keats) wrote:

>I'm snowed in. But I still gotta get around
>to do errands, which I typically and habitually
>do by bike. So, intending to hoof it, I get
>myself prepared to bravely step out into the
>sub-zero winter wonderland we're currently blessed
>with. I don my favourite baseball hat, and go to
>do up the (nonexistent) straps.
>
>The sensation is rather like climbing a staircase
>in the dark, and mis-counting the steps, and the
>last step you think is there ... isn't.

These past few days I've been riding the SS snow bike with flat
pedals. Wearing work boots, I keep trying to twist out of the pedals
like I would with the clipless pedals to which I've become
accustomed.

Claire mentioned doing the same thing with the accelerator pedal
while driving and I recalled smacking my head on the steering wheel
reaching for toe straps.

When I first switched to clipless pedals I kept reaching for the toe
strap when approaching stops.

I've often walked out of the house without the helmet because I'm
already wearing a skull cap.
--
zk

 

[Tom Keats]

In article <[email protected]>,
Werehatrack <[email protected]> writes:

> You're in good company. Or at least, I'd like the solace of thinking
> so.

Accidentally doing emacs navigational key sequences in MS Word
coughs-up some pretty weird consequences, too.


cheers,
Tom


--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

 

[[email protected]]

Werehatrack wrote:

> 5-speed box? Or stabbing for the clutch pedal with your left foot
> when coming to a stop light in a car with an automatic? Or

For best results, make sure you foot makes solid contact with the
absurdly wide brake pedal. Preferably in traffic and/or on ice.

Joseph

 

[Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman]

Tom Keats wrote:
> I'm snowed in. But I still gotta get around
> to do errands, which I typically and habitually
> do by bike. So, intending to hoof it, I get
> myself prepared to bravely step out into the
> sub-zero winter wonderland we're currently blessed
> with. I don my favourite baseball hat, and go to
> do up the (nonexistent) straps.
>
> The sensation is rather like climbing a staircase
> in the dark, and mis-counting the steps, and the
> last step you think is there ... isn't.

I often look for the (non-existent) seat belt when sitting down on a
recumbent bicycle.

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!

 

[Kristian M Zoerhoff]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Werehatrack <[email protected]> writes:
>
> > You're in good company. Or at least, I'd like the solace of thinking
> > so.
>
> Accidentally doing emacs navigational key sequences in MS Word
> coughs-up some pretty weird consequences, too.

Hear, hear. I've done this more than once with... amusing results.

--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email protected]
(_)/ (_)

 

[Paul Hobson]

Zoot Katz wrote:
> I've often walked out of the house without the helmet because I'm
> already wearing a skull cap.

Yup. As long as something is on my head, I'll head out.
\\paul

 

[John Kane]

Tom Keats wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Werehatrack <[email protected]> writes:
>
> > You're in good company. Or at least, I'd like the solace of thinking
> > so.
>
> Accidentally doing emacs navigational key sequences in MS Word
> coughs-up some pretty weird consequences, too.

Getting in the car and finding the steering wheel's been stolen ! Oops
I'm in Ireland not Canada.

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

 

[[email protected]]

John Kane wrote:
> Tom Keats wrote:
> > In article <[email protected]>,
> > Werehatrack <[email protected]> writes:
> >
> > > You're in good company. Or at least, I'd like the solace of thinking
> > > so.
> >
> > Accidentally doing emacs navigational key sequences in MS Word
> > coughs-up some pretty weird consequences, too.
>
> Getting in the car and finding the steering wheel's been stolen ! Oops
> I'm in Ireland not Canada.

This is closely related to the phenomenon of waking up to find someone
has removed the steering wheel from the rental car and mounted it on
the wrong side. This is often accompanied by maniacs driving on the
wrong side of the road toward you. Strangely enough this has only ever
happened to me while travelling.

Joseph

 

[Darin McGrew]

Tom Keats <[email protected]> wrote:
> I don my favourite baseball hat, and go to
> do up the (nonexistent) straps.

When I hear something behind me while walking, I often glance up at my
rear-view mirror to see what it was. Except that the mirror is attached to
my bike helment, which is at home.
--
Darin McGrew, [email protected], http://www.rahul.net/mcgrew/
Web Design Group, [email protected], http://www.HTMLHelp.com/

"There is no right way to do the wrong thing."

 

[Werehatrack]

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 11:39:04 -0500, Paul Hobson <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Zoot Katz wrote:
>> I've often walked out of the house without the helmet because I'm
>> already wearing a skull cap.
>
>Yup. As long as something is on my head, I'll head out.

Hair should be enough for anyo....wait, no, I shouldn't say that
anymore.

Nevermind.



--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

 

[Zoot Katz]

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 21:58:54 GMT, Werehatrack
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 11:39:04 -0500, Paul Hobson <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>Zoot Katz wrote:
>>> I've often walked out of the house without the helmet because I'm
>>> already wearing a skull cap.
>>
>>Yup. As long as something is on my head, I'll head out.
>
>Hair should be enough for anyo....wait, no, I shouldn't say that
>anymore.
>
>Nevermind.
>
According to one widely discussed bit of bogus research, wigs work
better then hell mutts for getting ones wobble room recognised.

I found wigs added wind resistance and their blocking peripheral
vision a nuisance. They're hotter than hell mutts to wear but they
sure can look cool.
--
zk

 

[amakyonin]

Zoot Katz wrote:
> These past few days I've been riding the SS snow bike with flat
> pedals. Wearing work boots, I keep trying to twist out of the pedals
> like I would with the clipless pedals to which I've become
> accustomed.

Ditto on the "unclipping" from platform pedals. The action is so
ingrained in my brainstem that I do it instictively before a stop or a
slow crawl even when I'm conciously trying not to.

 

[Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman]

amakyonin wrote:
> Zoot Katz wrote:
> > These past few days I've been riding the SS snow bike with flat
> > pedals. Wearing work boots, I keep trying to twist out of the pedals
> > like I would with the clipless pedals to which I've become
> > accustomed.
>
> Ditto on the "unclipping" from platform pedals. The action is so
> ingrained in my brainstem that I do it instictively before a stop or a
> slow crawl even when I'm conciously trying not to.

When riding a trike, one has to remember to NOT unclip when coming to a
stop.

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!

 

[Tom Keats]

In article <[email protected]>,
Zoot Katz <[email protected]> writes:

> These past few days I've been riding the SS snow bike with flat
> pedals.

I just won't ride in the snow. I guess I don't have
the gumption. But I gotta get a ride in soon somehow,
to preserve the remnants of my sanity.

In the meantime I'm staring at the skeleton of this
three-wheeled jogging stroller I've got, which I want
to convert to a trailer. The frame wishbones together
at the 3rd (front) wheel. And the frame is long but
narrow, which complicates rigging up a chainstay hitch.

I'm considering sawing off the back end of an old bike
frame (BB to rear dropouts) and making an axle hitch a la
BOB Yak. Too bad the seatstays on such a sawed-off piece
are angled to the wrong direction.

Maybe I should talk to that trailer guy up on Adanac Street.

I've also been whistfully looking at this sweetie:
http://www.carryfreedom.com/bamboo.html


cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

 

[Zoot Katz]

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:44:32 -0800, [email protected]
(Tom Keats) wrote:

>Maybe I should talk to that trailer guy up on Adanac Street.
>
Andy closed his shop and is touring Europe last I heard.

>I've also been whistfully looking at this sweetie:
> http://www.carryfreedom.com/bamboo.html

That is pretty and plenty strong enough. Too bad our local bamboo
doesn't get that big.
--
zk

 

[Tom Keats]

In article <[email protected]>,
Darin McGrew <[email protected]> writes:
> Tom Keats <[email protected]> wrote:
>> I don my favourite baseball hat, and go to
>> do up the (nonexistent) straps.
>
> When I hear something behind me while walking, I often glance up at my
> rear-view mirror to see what it was. Except that the mirror is attached to
> my bike helment, which is at home.

In the early fall when the weather is fair and dry, lots of
dead tree leaves litter the ground here. Sometimes I hear
those leaf corpses rustling in the wind behind me. It
sounds exactly like a rider behind me, upshifting with
click-shifters. I shoulder-check, and nobody's there,
except a lone, dry, brown leaf, tumbleweeding along behind me.


cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

 

[Tom Keats]

In article <[email protected]>,
Zoot Katz <[email protected]> writes:
> On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:44:32 -0800, [email protected]
> (Tom Keats) wrote:
>
>>Maybe I should talk to that trailer guy up on Adanac Street.
>>
> Andy closed his shop and is touring Europe last I heard.

I envy him.

>>I've also been whistfully looking at this sweetie:
>> http://www.carryfreedom.com/bamboo.html
>
> That is pretty and plenty strong enough. Too bad our local bamboo
> doesn't get that big.

But we do have vine maple and (introduced) mountain ash.
Might take a little drawknife work, but I like how the
design is regionally adaptable.

Here's another one:
http://www.cyclecircus.org/images/colortrailer5.gif

The use of a derailleur hanger makes it more of an axle hitch
than a chainstay hitch. And the two chain links for a
"universal joint" look kind of lurchy. But it gives some
ideas & visualizations.


cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

 

[Zoot Katz]

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 23:45:57 -0800, [email protected]
Tom Keats) wrote:

>>>I've also been whistfully looking at this sweetie:
>>> http://www.carryfreedom.com/bamboo.html
>>
>> That is pretty and plenty strong enough. Too bad our local bamboo
>> doesn't get that big.
>
>But we do have vine maple and (introduced) mountain ash.
>Might take a little drawknife work, but I like how the
>design is regionally adaptable.
>
>Here's another one:
> http://www.cyclecircus.org/images/colortrailer5.gif
>
>The use of a derailleur hanger makes it more of an axle hitch
>than a chainstay hitch. And the two chain links for a
>"universal joint" look kind of lurchy. But it gives some
>ideas & visualizations.

It seems to me that if you have the stub axles and wheels from your
jogging stroller it would be easy enough to make a BikeBox style
trailer with a piece of plywood and some PVC pipe. You could adapt
any of the designs on that site for a tongue and hitch .
--
zk