Amaranth Rocks

If you see this package in your local supermarket health food isle, you MUST buy it. For under $4 you get 100g of this puffed grain stuff that tastes like ice cream cone and contains (among other things) a heap of protein and an almost-full deck of amino acids. Top your ice cream with it, stir it into yogurt or cereal, eat it as cereal, whatever. It's awesome, cheap and that's all you need to know...

...other than it's apparently not too great for those with kidney problems, gout or arthritis (something to do with mildly inhibiting uptake of specific minerals). If you've ever wondered whether there was a downside to your lifestyle of excessive drinking and masturbation, it turns out that it's reduced cereal options. Who knew?

Where Are My Manners?

This is Vinnie, my single speed beater.

Vinnie - a lugged, resprayed Repco(?) 10-speed - was found with a buckled rear wheel on Vincent St in Surrey Hills. The frame was straight, the brakes and gears worked. Sad that an otherwise usable bike could be consigned to landfill because it's not chromoly, or a track frame, or European. Because new things are cool.

When I say it was sad, what I mean is that I felt a momentary pang before my brother and I realised we'd just scored a free bike.

Vinnie is one tough bastard. So I win, and Mystery Surrey Hills Person loses.


I quite liked the feel of my brother's 2007 SE Lager, so I had a really basic single-speed conversion done (same chainrings, dirt cheap 120mm rear hub with a bunch of spacers) and joined the single-speed community. The cotter pin in the left crank went after a month so I replaced the cranks with something generic, likewise with the BB, added a 45t Shimano cog, and finished it off with some MKS Sylvan Pedals (I like shiny).

Scraped the left pedal a little yesterday (see previous post), but otherwise Vinnie keeps on spinnin'. I might just continue upgrading him as I get the time and money - I'm no steel snob.

Le Stack Grande

Tell you what's a bad idea - slotting your wheel into a tram track and popping back out at 20ks at a 45 degree angle.

For those in cities (or countries) without trams, I can tell you that the tracks are steel grooves embedded in the street, and they accommodate an old 27" rim quite nicely.

I ducked around a parked cab on Swanston St and into the tram lane, but merged out on too shallow an angle - the tram track sucked my front wheel in and flung it back out sideways.

Falling at speed is always the same sensation.

I can save this.

No, wait, I'm flying.

I can't believe it.

I wonder if this will hu...

*crunch*

The damage includes 1 slightly shonky front wheel, 1 bent brake caliper, 1 badly grazed knee, 1 grazed shoulder (and 2007 Ride To Work t-shirt with matching burn hole and asphalt stains), 2 scraped knuckles and bruised palms, 1 sprained finger, 1 sprained elbow and some almost trendy holes in my shorts. Handlebars feel a little strange too, and may well be bent as I'm almost certain I landed on them.

The Test

This one's been floating around the bicycle blogs. Great PSA campaign.

http://www.dothetest.co.uk/

...unless it is impracticable to do so.

Opposite side of the St George's Road / Holden Street intersection.

It was 40 degrees C (about 110F) last Friday. Michelle, our receptionist, described the lunchtime walk to the shops as 'swimming through air'. Within a few blocks of my homeward commute I could affirm that the analogy was stunningly apt. It was as if a giant had stood beneath the world and exhaled - the earth tumbling in space on that hot, slow, terrible breath.

It sucked.

[switch to present tense]

At about 25 minutes into my route I swing from the Park St bicycle track onto St George's Rd (with the pedestrian light) and keep the lane as I approach the lights at the Holden St intersection. The lights ahead are amber by the time the vehicles at the pedestrian crossing behind me have their green, and cars dot the bike lane across the intersection. I keep the 'car' lane because the one intended for my use isn't available.

A glazier's ute pulls out from behind me and into the right lane (sort of), and I see the tradesman inside gesticulating toward the bicycle lane.

A few things to point out before I go any further.

1) It was 40 degrees.

2) The bicycle lane ahead was full of cars.

3) Had I been in the bicycle lane and my friend in the ute the left lane;
a) He would have to overtake the car to his right before the parked cars (which is illegal)
b) I would have to merge right in the middle of the intersection
c) 3a + 3b equal me getting smacked off the road with some force

4) 3c has happened to me once before at this exact intersection (a BMW 1 series took its passenger side mirror off on my forearm)

5) Road Rules Victoria 247.1 states that;

'The rider of a bicycle riding on a length of road with a bicycle lane designed for bicycles travelling in the same direction as the rider must ride in the bicycle lane unless it is impracticable to do so.'

6) Road Rules Victoria 125.2 states that;

...a driver does not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or a pedestrian only because—
(a) the driver is stopped in traffic; or
(b) the driver is driving more slowly than other vehicles (unless the driver is driving abnormally slowly in the circumstances).

7) It was 40 degrees

I pull up beside the glazier, knowing before he opens his mouth what would follow. The following is a rough transcript.

"What's wrong with the bike lane?!"
"Do you see the parked cars up there?"
"I.."
"Where am I supposed to merge out mate, in the middle of the intersection?"
"Regardless mate, you can..."
"No. No, not regardless. Read the Road Rules. Read Them."
"What? Do they..."
"The Road Rules state that I can take the lane if it's not convenient..."
"What, that's not convenient.."
"No, you fucking idiot, look at the parked cars!"

Green lights, and off he goes. As you've no doubt gathered, the joke is that at no point in this story was this man inconvenienced by me. I put myself in the left lane so that he could see me, and so that I wouldn't be darting in and out of parked cars. After straddling the lanes to pass me far too close on the right, he found the right lane was in fact available to him, and took it.

It irritates me that he would lay into me for no other reason than he saw an opportunity. It irritates me that he would not switch perspectives for even a moment. It irritates me he no doubt still thinks he was in the right. But most of all, it irritates me that I had to get in his face, and that he may well have gone home to yell at his kids, or friends, or partner, because he couldn't deal with the possibility that perhaps he was wrong in this instance. I hate sending that kind of negative vibe out there.

But the guy was a tool.

REBOOT

I've decided stories are more interesting than a summary of a week spent internet window shopping.

Stay tuned for actual content.

Thanks,
Simondo

(Much) More To Love Vegan

Buttons is lovelier than I. Why? She didn't invent vegan tuna, but her blog was the portal through-which this impossibility strode forth, like some kind of 'anti-meal' whose very existence in our reality could cause some kind of cataclysmic implosion.

I'm willing to risk it.

That Peter Singer & Jim Mason Book

In Australia, it looks like this;



In the US, more like this;



But I'm sure you know which book I'm talking about. I won't launch headlong into blow-by-blow analysis here because, honestly, that time is better spent reading the thing.

What I will say is this;

Some choices (such as whether to recycle a piece of paper or not) have next to no impact on your immediate life, but make a big difference in the long term. All that needs happen is for someone to tell you that these choices have different consequences.

Food is exactly the same.

From the way a food is produced, to how far it has traveled, to the level of cruelty involved (to animals and people), who knows how many tiny changes you could make in your life that might make a big difference to other people, animals, the environment, or the economy.

I think that everyone should read this book, because no harm can come from informing yourself. You can choose to change everything, or something, or, if you truly think you have it right already, nothing at all. But at least you'll be choosing, rather than letting glossy packets, strategic supermarket 'specials', and the status quo choose for you.

Grips!

My apologies to those of you who read my blog solely for the dietary content - one more bike thing and then I'll post something foody. Promise.

As you can see, I finally got sick enough of 'grip-slip' to change my handlebar grips.* These new doovies aren't the highest quality, but at AUD$20, I don't really care. The important thing is that if you're careful enough to avoid damaging them during installation, they are simple and incredibly effective. Rather than relying on the friction of rubber against steel, these grips have two aluminium clamps at either end that you tighten with an allen key.

Be warned! It is very easy to get over-eager and grind the edges of the screw head, making it impossible to tighten or loosen them again (this is known as stripping the head). Also, the end caps are plastic. Where clamps beat screws, screws beat plastic, meaning that they have the potential to bore a hole straight through the cap if you don't stop turning at the first sign of resistance. Luckily the grip clamps prevent your whole body weight from transferring to the caps, so their 'tightness' is largely irrelevant.

These grips are made by JetBlack, although ODI make something similar (if better quality). I would encourage anyone who is sick of their handlebar grips slipping off to invest in a pair using this kind of clamp setup.

* The assiduous among you may be wondering how the hell I replaced the drive side grip without replacing the twist shift mechanism. All I can say is bar tape is a wonderful thing.

Chain Tension - BMX bandits, fixed-gear trendies, and cruiser dudes listen up!

If your bike has the standard vertical/diagonal dropout and dérailleur setup (i.e. has more than one gear that isn't a hub gear), then find something to entertain yourself with for the next few minutes while I do a little PSA for the rest of us.

When your bike has rear facing (horizontal) dropouts and a coaster brake or fixed gear arrangement, chain tension is a big deal. If the axle moves forward (towards the center of the bike) the chain tension will slacken, and when you push back on the pedals the chain you are relying on to stop you will instead hop off of the cog and send you coasting straight into traffic.

Tighten the axle nuts all you like, all it takes is a drop of 10cm to take your bike from safe transportation to death trap**.

Pictured above is the simplest solution - 'a chain tugger'. This one by Surly is called (unfortunately) the 'Tuggnut'. At a RRP of AUD$75 it's not cheap, but it's made from Stainless Steel and can open a beer.*

A+ already from me.

It works by slipping over your axle (under the axle nut on the drive side) and pushing against the end of the drop-out to pull the chain taut. Just tighten the thumbscrew until the chain is to your desired tension, line up the other side so that the wheel is dead straight, and tighten the axle nuts. Done!


* Remember, ride THEN drink.
** Ideally you should have a front brake too, but it's nice to have both working so that you don't panic, slam on the front brake without pushing back against the handlebars, and go T over A into the asphalt.

Ever feel like the world is a Terry Gilliam film?

This, via Gristmill, is absolutely, without a doubt, the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.

In a nutshell? The Arctic ice is melting as a direct result of our dependence on fossil fuels. Now every nation with even the most tenuous claim on the land beneath that frozen tundra is scrambling to annex it. What's under the ice that has everyone so excited? More fossil fuels of course!

UPDATE

GT Bicycles - a brand of Pacific Cycle - a company owned by Dorel

The e-mail to GT Bicycles US seems to have gone nowhere, and so I devote a few hours to research.

GT Bicycles is a brand of Pacific Cycle

Pacific Cycle, in turn, is a company owned by Dorel, who are a Canadian company listed on the TSX.

And so, a different approach.

to ir@dorel.com
date Aug 16, 2007 2:29 PM
subject A question about Dorel's Taiwan suppliers.

Dear Mr Schwartz,

I have been perusing the Investor Fact Sheet provided in the press section of the Dorel website, with an eye to invest in Dorel. While I'm not what you would call a professional investor, I have some capital, and I would like to invest it in a company whose brands I know and respect rather than relying on a broker to divvy it up between this unknown mining company, or that shaky construction firm etc etc.

In my case, I have always found GT bicycles to be a good mix of quality and affordability, and feel that the company behind that brand (and the other notable brands under the umbrella of Pacific Cycle) would be a sound investment.

Unfortunately, as I am the one casting my eye upon the facts and figures, I cannot simply wave away the less seemly aspects of a business - even if they are perhaps unrelated to overall profitability. Specifically, I am referring to the following;

Outsourcing in the Lowest Cost Environments: In its pursuit to be the lowest cost producer in all operations, Dorel has developed strong capabilities to source a variety of products in Asia and South America through a network of manufacturers and designers. In some cases, North America has proven to be the lowest cost environment where certain products continue to be manufactured in Company facilities.

In addition to this;

Dorel China works closely with the Company's Asian suppliers ensuring all products are made per the divisions' specifications; seeking the lowest cost production; ensuring that production is smooth; guarantying the strictest quality control, and with Dorel's corporate global logistics department, are certain that orders are shipped on time and constantly tracked.

While it has been made quite clear that Dorel values the best possible value for the lowest possible cost, no mention is made of the less popular aspect of outsourced manufacture. I am, of course, talking about the human rights aspect. While I have no reason to doubt Dorel's credibility on this issue, talk of 'lowest possible cost' worries me. The price of materials and the transportation of those materials are not so often as flexible to the market as the wages and working conditions of those responsible for the manufacture - the coalface workers, so to speak. While I have always enjoyed using the GT product, if Dorel where such a company that could cut such ethical corners, I do not believe I could bring myself to invest in such a business.

Most corporations tend to view their offshore operations as separate companies subcontracted for a fee set by the market, and thereby seek to divest themselves of all the humanitarian responsibilities by stating simply that the goods are manufactured for a mutually agreed fee. I would like to hold the companies in which I invest to a higher standard. I'm a bit fussy that way.

Basically, if Dorel or Dorel China can provide me with some assurance of a standard for the working conditions and wages of those offshore manufacturers it subcontracts (similar to the quality standard alluded to in the aforementioned Information sheet) that would be greatly appreciated. Extensive digging on my part has turned up only this, in your Code of Business Conduct;

HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE WORKPLACE
The Company is guided by principles of non-discrimination, respect for human rights and individual freedoms and conducts its global business in an appropriate manner. We do not permit discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, gender, national origin, religious belief or on the basis of any personal characteristic protected by law.
In addition, we do not permit coercion or intimidation in the workplace and we are unequivocally opposed to forced or child labor. We respect employees' rights in relation to employment matters. While the Company will promote its position in a fair and legal manner; we recognize the right of employees to organize legally and bargain collectively.

However there is no indication this applies to those companies subcontracted by Dorel.

As I say, I appreciate the quality and pricing of the brands under Dorel, but I want to be sure that the companies in which I invest are companies in which I can be proud to invest. As stated in the your Code of Conduct 'The Company is committed to demonstrating that good corporate citizenship is compatible with achieving superior returns for its shareholders'. I am a firm believer in this, and would like to see it upheld.

Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

In good faith,

Simon Nix

Plush Pizza

You're looking at vegan pizza - a Ben's Special. To answer your questions in no particular order;

1. Plush Pizza,
   
2. Redwood Cheezly Mozzarella Vegan Cheese (no rennet, casein, or dairy), and
   
3. Not quite as good as the real deal, but better than the competition.

Actually, the Cheezly Mozzarella Plush use is similar in texture to Kingland's Soy Cheese, except that it melts and tastes less like clay. In fact, it tastes similar to those little Tiger cheese wedges your domestically inclined parent placed in your lunch box when you were a kid. It doesn't melt quite as well as Tofutti, but then it doesn't have quite so many artery chokey ingredients, so make up your own mind on that one.

In terms of transport pollution however, coming as it does from the UK the more eco-conscious vegans out there might opt for cheese-less. Again.

It's a hard life.

The pizza, on a lighter note, was peppery, crisp, thick, and not too oily. Jen had a vegan lasagne, which was a bit burnt on the top but otherwise comparable to the meatier variety of take away lasagne found at most pizza houses.

(she told me not to take a photo because she didn't believe it would do it justice)

The thing that makes Plush highly exceptional is that it is a vegetarian pizzeria owned and run by vegetarians and vegans - all very friendly. For this reason the menu is huge. There are about 24 options in total (Lasagne and Calzone included), and only a handful are a no- go for the vegan contingent.

Overall verdict? We will be back.

Plush Pizza
85 Burwood Road,
Hawthorn, VIC
03 9819 1188

AND BACK WE WENT

Last night Jen and I dropped by Plush again. I had the Verdi Calzone (tofu!) and Jen had a small Barbeque (out of bounds for me on account of the honey BBQ sauce). My brother - whose tastes run more to 'anything' and have no particular ethical bent - had the Ben's Special with regular cheese. No complaints either, which is high praise from him, as he is a teenager and loves to complain.

If only we didn't have to drive there...

Bike Modifications!

A piece of my handlebar grip. The bike in the background is Jen's MTB - a good ol' Trailbreaker 2 named 'Clover'. Unlike my bike, Clover was not harmed in the making of this post.

A simple operation for you.

if (cost of repair (value of item / degree of broken-ness) <= (your skill / degree of broken-ness)) {
repair;
} else {
take to someone who knows what they're doing;
}

This is all reasonable, except that the variables are acutally more complex. For instance, your skill = (ego * impatience * knowledge * random), while degree of broken-ness = (your skill * obviousness of problem).

In English? Stupidity can sometimes lead you to start 'fixing' things you should have just left alone.

Last week I decided to 'fix' the twist grip on my bike, and it almost became one of those situations.

If you remember, the design GT settled on was a motorcycle style twist grip where the whole grip turns to change gear. While I thought this added to the authenticity of the motorcycle angle, it was perhaps unwise to design a system that changes gear every time you place your weight on the handlebars. My first step, therefore, was to disassemble the grip.


Pictured above is the inside of the twist grip found on my Kustom Kruiser: below, the bare handlebar and the twist grip shifter to which the above attaches. Essentially, the inner slots over the handlebar and twist mechanism, and the outer grip on which you place your hands slots over that.

The first shock was that the outer grip was only connected to the inner grip by friction between it and a rubber sheath. Doubtless this was done to allow some give and reduce the stress placed on the twist shift mechanism. Unfortunately, as there was no friction between the inside of the grip and the handlebar itself, the only the resistance offered to lateral pressure was from the twist shifter on one end (secured by a screw) and the handlebar cap at the other (secured by a rubber stopper).

Pressure, as we all know, follows the path of least resistance.

Failing to break the twist grip mechanism, it would push on the handlebar cap and, *pop*; half way through your ride the cap would fly off into traffic and you'd be left holding the outer grip in your hand like some kind of mad, cycling jedi who can't find the on switch.

This did happen, at least once.

Step 2: Plaster Saw 1, Inside of Grip 0.

It seemed a simple matter. Take the inside of the grip and saw it in half so that only the inner rim of the grip engages with the twist shifter - the way Shimano intended it. One plaster saw and 30 seconds later, we had two separate pieces.

Can anyone see the problem here?

The rim of the grip now functioned (perfectly) as the gear changer, however now there was nothing stopping the rest of the handle from spinning freely. Which it did. Attempts to cut out some of the rubber from the inner sheath to act as an additional inner-inner sheath didn't pan out because, as you can see from the top picture, the handlebar could no longer fit inside.

Shit.

Shitshitshit.

Then, a revelation.


Half a roll of blue electrical tape later, I had created enough friction to hold the inner grip to the handlebar. After jumping up and down on it several times, I had also fit the outer grip to the inner so snuggly that Jedi moments would now involve more strength than I could intentionally muster.

The end result?


Awesome, no?

Follow our advice for what to eat on a date, or else you may appear vapid or shallow!

It will come as no surprise that the Fashion and Style section of a news paper carries little weight or substance, but this article may not be subject to the laws of gravity.

That's right, nothing says what a strong willed individual you can be like basing your diet on how likely you are to get a shag out of it.

I'd go on, but I'd just be paraphrasing Kate Sheppard's article over at Gristmill.

Extra long stripey scarf not included...

Paris is plus 10,000 très chic rental bikes, and minus at least some gridlock, according to TimesOnline UK (linked from Gristmill).

Since the 15th of June, eco-savvy Parisians have had access to a fleet of self service rental bikes available from 750 locations city-wide. Reports suggest the 'Vélib' fleet has been well received, and the bicycles are already making a dent in the city's serious traffic congestion quandary.

The likelihood of theft - the most frequent derailleur* of similar projects - has been dramatically reduced by simple virtue of the fact the bikes are very heavy (in excess of 20kg), and quite unique in appearance. It's doubtful a new paint job and some new chrome spinner wheels would fool authorities.

* I apologise for nothing.

Let's Smear The Greens!

That seems to be the purpose of this website.

smearmongering hack (n) a journalist, politician or other who suggests that a particular political party or group is evil, and that anyone who agrees with them on any issue, ever, is evil by association. This is usually accomplished by distracting from actual policy and/or ideas.
See also political party desperate to win office.

The Clickclickclank Unabridged Dictionary, 2007

I'm not opposed to criticism of any political party, so long as it's valid. This isn't.

The Greens are preferencing the Liberal Party.
The Greens did not do a preference deal with the Liberals for the seat of Melbourne in the last federal election - they simply didn't preference Labour. This has been well publicised. The Greens split their ticket - giving voters instructions for preferencing either way. Last time I checked this was known as promoting free will.
If the Greens feel they could do the job better than Labor, why would they preference Labour in a two horse race where the Liberals stand no chance of winning the seat? The Greens have never preferenced the Liberal Party in any seat, ever. This accusation seems to be implying that the Greens should roll over and let Labor take any seat the Greens stand a hope of winning, lest the Liberals win office. Perhaps if Labor had more robust policies in their environmental/social welfare portfolio, they wouldn't have to worry about losing seats to the Greens.

The Liberals aren't running candidates in seats they don't see themselves winning, therefore the Greens are in league with the Liberals.
Sometimes an argument is so stupid, it is its own rebuttal.

The Greens have voted with the Liberals 68% of the time in the Upper House.
In the case of setting a carbon reduction goal for the future, they voted with the Liberals against Labor because they believe the Labor proposal does not go far enough (I believe the Greens set the target of 80% reductions by 2050). All this tells us is that a) the Greens vote according to the bill, and b) there is obviously a widening gap between the values held by Labor versus those held by the Greens (read: there is a narrowing gap between the values held by Labor, and those held by the Liberals).

Also, you'll notice that the page has a few generic, light on criticisms in the comments, and that the comments 'Are Closed'. If someone has seen this comments section open, please let me know.

As I said earlier, I'm not opposed to criticism of any political party. What I am opposed to is political parties using the internet to spread misinformation without a right of reply.

Oh, and just in case you're unsure who's behind this, or how recent it is;

greens-liberal-deal.com.au

Domain Name: greens-liberal-deal.com.au
Last Modified: 04-Jun-2007 05:33:14 UTC
Registrar ID: R00010-AR
Registrar Name: Melbourne IT
Status: OK

Registrant: AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY
Registrant ID: ABN 49269815144

Eligibility Type: Incorporated Association

Registrant ROID: C5137789-AR
Registrant Contact Name: AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY
Registrant Email: Visit whois.ausregistry.com.au for Web based WhoIs

Tech ID: C5137790-AR
Tech Name: Jason Bird
Tech Email: Visit whois.ausregistry.com.au for Web based WhoIs

Name Server: ns32b.ssggrp-wc.com
Name Server: ns32a.ssggrp-wc.com

Something cool, and something cool I found with that something cool

Huzzah.

Blogger(blogspot) have introduced a new feature allowing you to type a list of interests into your profile, click on one, and bring up a list of every other blog with that interest listed.

And what was the first thing I found with this new feature? How about an Australian blog that asks many of the same questions I've been asking myself, with a whole shit-load of contributers.

No More Stuff poses the mind bender questions with a focus on reuse over consumerism, but does so without the pedantry usually associated with enviro publications (the kind churned out by seventh year social policy grad students who live with their mum - the anti-social socialists).

It's really encouraging to see switched on, balanced people like these out there contributing positively to public debate.

Love it.

New York City Councilwoman gears up to ban the word 'bitch'

Okay, so freedom of speech isn't exactly within the Clickclickclank purview, but Pandagon is one of my favourite blogs.

Here's why.

They always manage to cut through the bullshit to get at the heart of an issue. In this case - that Councilwoman Darlene Mealy should know that a word in itself is not an attitude.

Amanda Marcotte, you are my hero.

What?

This image is the creative work of 'Toothpaste For Dinner', and is totally copyright them, 2007.

Kate G, aka G-Fresh, aka Guesticle, aka work-type boss-woman, has provided me with a link to the t-shirt to please anyone. Wear it because it's ironic, wear it because it's fact. It's the most awesome t-shirt ever.

Check out the Toothpaste for Dinner comic, also. It's rad.

UPDATE

You may need a friend in the US of A for this, as it turns out they don't do international. Beh-bong!