Do you know that there are locations the place they don’t preserve all of the merchandise below lock and key?
In the meantime, each time I am going to my native Goal right here within the Bronx they’ve locked up extra stuff. This previous weekend I waited a very good ten minutes for an worker to permit me to entry a package deal of plain white t-shirts. Along with that I picked out some “fancier” t-shirts–you already know, those for millionaires that come in several colours and are bought individually–which inexplicably have been simply out within the open on racks, hanging there for the taking. Then I paid for all the pieces on the self-check, like a very good citizen.
On the way in which out of the shop I used to be vaguely conscious of an alarm going off someplace, however I didn’t suppose something of it, since, as I mentioned, I’d paid, plus the shop safety didn’t appear in any respect involved in regards to the sound. Additionally, it’s a really busy Goal, with tons and many folks going out and in consistently. All of that is to say that the sound barely registered…till I obtained house and noticed that the “fancy” shirts nonetheless had the little anti-theft tags on them, and realized the alarm will need to have been me:
[Photo from Reddit or something.]
This raised many questions in my thoughts, together with however not restricted to:
- Why lock up the packaged undershirts however not the “fancy” shirts?
- Why put the tags on the garments in any respect if no person’s going to cease you from taking them?
- Why lock up something if no person’s going to cease you from taking it? I imply simply because somebody has to unlock a package deal of t-shirts for me there’s nonetheless nothing conserving me from stealing them.
- How are you presupposed to take away the anti-theft tag on the self-check, anyway? Is there a bit thingy there? I’ve by no means observed or thought to look. That is additionally not the primary time I’ve gotten house and realized the tags have been nonetheless on the garments, and there’s no method I’ll keep in mind to test subsequent time, both. As an alternative I’ll simply preserve prying them off at house with a screwdriver.
- Why doesn’t anybody put on galoshes anymore? (That is fully unrelated to my expertise at Goal, but it surely’s nonetheless a legitimate query.)
Now I understand that, other than the galoshes situation, all of that is probably a political minefield and that it’s both the fault of the evil progressives or the evil capitalists relying on which workforce you’re on, however that’s not the purpose of this publish. I’m merely mentioning that, regardless of the cause, issues have gotten to the purpose the place it’s now simpler for me to buy my sundries within the suburbs throughout my rides than it’s to buy domestically. Not solely that, however I additionally left my bike unlocked exterior of the pharmacy and it was nonetheless there once I got here again, although to be honest it may very well be that the colour is inherently theft-proof:
Hey, I occur to love it, however in the event you suppose this specific hue ought to be known as “Lifeless Earthworm” then I can’t actually argue because it blends fairly properly:
Oh, and if that crotch shot isn’t soiled sufficient for you, right here’s one other one:
Notice the body measurement is stamped into the underside bracket shell. Now that’s simply good.
When you’d have informed me only a few months in the past that in 2024 the Faggin would turn into considered one of my primary street bikes then by golly I wouldn’t have believed you–but right here we’re and I couldn’t be happier, because the bike is operating fantastically. For wheels I’m utilizing a pair I obtained from Paul of Traditional Cycle a number of years again:
The edges are ceramic, and I ought to most likely get some ceramic brake pads since I think about they’d be extra constant within the rain, however then once more I ought to most likely do lots of issues.
The hubs are Campagnolo Document–the final iteration, earlier than Campy mentioned “Fuck it,” stopped making standalone hubs altogether, and went all-in on pre-built wheels:
And the tires are so-called Continental Gator Hardshell:
In contrast to the Paselas the experience high quality leans in direction of “showering with a raincoat on,” however after many miles the exhibit little to no put on, and the one cause I don’t suppose my grandkids will nonetheless be utilizing this exact same pair is that everyone knows that by then everybody will probably be driving flying digital area bikes:
Retarding drive is utilized by way of generic levers pulling generic brakes:
And shifting is completed by wiggling these Silver friction shifters:
Which in flip tug at a pair of vintage mechanical derailleurs:
All these components working collectively in live performance achieve this with a degree of beautiful refinement that’s fully at odds with the bikes’ raveled look.
As I’ve additionally talked about, the crank is a freakish specimen, with 53/42 chainrings and 165mm arms…
…although I collect quick cranks are a factor now so after shopping for them on super-duper deep low cost a few years in the past I’m now by chance on-trend.
For years, the rule of thumb (or leg) was that in the event you have been of common top like me you used 172.5mm cranks on the street, and 175mm cranks within the grime, and for years I adhered to it. (Why? Properly I by no means thought to ask!) Nevertheless, because the Previous Crap Check Pilot for Traditional Cycle, I’ve since had the event to experience varied crank lengths throughout varied forms of bikes, and whereas I do discover variations in crank size, I’ve come to find that they don’t actually matter–or not less than to me they don’t. Little doubt crank size makes a significant distinction to athletes seeking to maximize their efficiency, which I’m emphatically not. Little doubt it additionally makes a significant distinction to people who find themselves delicate to issues of motorbike match, which, fortuitously, I’m additionally not. For essentially the most half I simply get used to stuff, which is why I’m the world’s worst bike reviewer. (After like 20 minutes no matter bike I’m driving often turns into my favourite.)
As for the 165mm cranks, I assumed these is perhaps too quick, however after driving them for awhile I’ve gotten fully used to them too. I did attempt to learn up on why shorter cranks are in vogue, although I in a short time obtained bored as a result of a lot of the causes didn’t actually matter to me. One cause I discover attention-grabbing although is that shorter cranks supposedly facilitate a extra aero place because it’s simpler to pedal when as a result of smaller circumference of the pedal stroke or no matter, and I believe there’s one thing to that, as a result of the Faggin has fairly low bars but I really feel extra comfy within the drops on it than I ought to.
Although it may simply be palliative impact off the Lifeless Earthworm paint.
