Sometimes I imagine myself standing on the very cusp of the amazing-rest-of-my-life just waiting to unfold. And I’ve got everything I need.
I live in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, and my rent is reasonable. I live in a comfortable apartment, with the biggest bedroom of any place I’ve ever lived, in a neighborhood I love. My landlord is friendly and responsive to my concerns. I can see the Empire State Building from my roof. I am friends with my roommates, and we avoid cable bills by watching TV on the computer. I am friends with my neighbors, who offer me cold drinks and jerk chicken hot off the grill on weekends.
“…By limiting the form with a fixed set of design rules and stepping away from the traditional function-oriented approach to the design process, this project transcends the border between design and art, raising fundamental questions about the nature of the bike as design and as a lifestyle accessory and introducing a much needed playfulness on the bicycle scene. The BauBike is a bike for the modern urban society where adaptability is a necessity.”
…cough…
I haven’t posted much bike-related content lately, but yesterday my buddy and erstwhile bandmate, Joel, brought this series of videos to my attention. Appropriately, they combine a bunch of my interests: bikes, experimental music, and Frank Zappa!
I’m struck by how much Zappa, in his clean-shaven youth and skinny tie, could easily be a modern-day hipster. Something about his unshakable sincerity also reminds me of an composer friend of mine from college—Dan Futura, are you out there?
I also think it’s interesting how everybody on TV or the radio during that era seems to have kind of casual, polished swagger in their voice. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is…
And I love how he plugs his record at the end!
Allen: Is there anything you’d like to say in closing?
Zappa: Yes, I would… Next week this record is being released called called “How’s Your Bird?” … Go out and buy it. It’s wonderful. It has everything but a bicycle.
I bought this old “All Pro” department store bike (originally from K-mart, I think) from a flea market in Hell’s Kitchen near Michelle’s place. If rust = vintage and vintage = cool, then does rust = cool?
I hope not, because I sanded all of it off and repainted the frame, bell, fenders, and chainguard (including the orange stripe detailing). New brakes, new handlebars, kickstand, new back weel (ditched the coaster for a single speed cog), trued and re-dished the wheels, polished all the chrome, and a badass new cruiser saddle. I’ll post the “after” picture as soon as she sees it.