Fix me a Fixie!

Well as the title suggests this week I have been hard at work on my latest home made project. Far from my normal daily grind I have had a week off from all that to spend some time on my hobbies. I never really had all that many hobbies – biking has always been a big one though and so I thought I would fix myself up my old fixie (Fixed gear bike) that is in teh shed and had been there for over 4 years.

You can always buy fixed gear bikes from local bike shops or the interwebs or wherever but really I think a true fixed gear is something you have cobbled together out of loads of old bits of bikes. Mine is semi victorian!!!! its got track bike bits from my racing days and even a mountainbike part or two! Long live the fixie my friends, especially my shed one!

One minute your there..

One minute your there and one minute your not – it can all depend on such a variety of things from the terrain of the political arena to your local bus route being early. From the depth of your wallet to the depth of your suffering or mental illness.

Life can be great or awful but in the end you are the only one that can do your best to steer it towards the good elements. Try hard and you might get a job you like.

This is what I was always thinking anyway – when I accepted the job as a car review writer I thought it would be great, everything I wanted – I never expected to get into such a disgustingly little car as the Volkswagen Lupo. This car is smaller than anything anyone has ever made – you would be forgiven for thinking it was smaller than a 1 pound coin if you didnt look twice. I have to say out of all the cars a tall man could review this is my least favourite – but here we go – “its small, very very small..” lol

Surf T Shirts rock my socks

Surf T Shirts are the in thing right now, with people living in crowded cities far from the seashore choosing to own these items of clothing. With many retailers competing for new arrivals in this genre of clothing, it seems that the makers of the lumix range have the monopoly. The surfshirt is not just a piece of clothing, it also appears to be a way of life for some people. The board shorts, most commonly featuring some sort of floral print, and the dac style haircut mean that those who choose the beach way of life are easily identified. However I would recommend those who live miles from the sea don’t attempt this style as you can get some very funny looks when walking through central London dressed for the beach!

Bed Times Suck…when ur a kid

I remember the days, back when I was younger than I was feet tall and everything was simple – you hated bedtime and short of being gagged with some twine there was not much that could get you to submit to the travesty that it was.

Those days were good days for me – compared to the mental complexity of adult life and the trivial crap we seem to go through.

I don’t know whether I am on a downer or whether I am just seeing life for what it is – shockingly like bedtime was to me when I was a youngster.

Drove my Chevy to the levy..lol

That old song – I can’t remember for the life of me who sang it – probably dolly parton or some country music star? anyone know? Well if the levy is the petrol station and the Chevy is my little chevrolet (not mine but our families) then I am doing that all the time. My little car pootles down my street without the roar of the v8 but its chevrolet insurance that makes me drive the thing – its so cheap its almost unreal – you would think this thing is wrapped in 2 ton of cotton wool the price I pay for insurance, but then I suppose the small sub 1 litre engine does do the job for them, I dont know what the max speed is though?

Dream auction bidding

On the request of my car dealing friend I went to a car auction in south wales this week, not intending to purchase a car at all, more out of interest and for the atmosphere. What I did notice was a whole number of different quality cars – I assumed these auctions always just got rid of the tripey motors that know-one can rightly shift, but there were several stunners including a prestine GTR-34 Skyline and cars like newish SLK mercedes convertables. I almost bid until I thought where is my mind and put my hand down – its infections standing in the stalls waiting for the fast speaking narrator to indicate who drives which car home and for what price – If I were in the buying and selling car businessI think I would really get off on this scenario – its a fun way of doing business and great for meeting people!

Lego rocks

Recently all I can think about is my childhood – I kinda miss being young, innocent and simple. Without the complexity of barrichello or the introduction of fashion, self esteem, person, career’s, love lifes, achievement and all of the other taxing, difficult things we have to deal with in life. Whether its to know the difference between a good suit and graffiti t shirts of my youth, or which I should be wearing. I long for legos, for those easy days lost now to my youth. We should all live a bit more care-free – but the ongoing recession and troubles with monies makes it harder and harder to be stable and safe financially – especially in Britain anyway. Its an ongoing battle in ourselves for peace of mind perhaps – maybe next post I will think a bit before posting – this one seems a bit disjointed and random – apologies for that just wanted to let it all out!

Lorry to the Glue Factory

Been thinking recently about the books I read in school – specifically animal farm – you must remember the big stupid horse named Boxer? he was sent to the glue factory to be made into glue, because he was old and stupid. Its a sad story but it has strong ideals and thoughts behind it. Should they do the same to lorries – should lorries be broken down for salvage? or should they be allowed to continue to drive round? I am so sure older lorries really negatively affect our pollution output as a country. Down with the older polluting cars – up with the newer turbo diesel models!!! thats what I say – random outburst over ;P

I hate Daewoos’

My Auntie took me and my cousin to the cinema, mainly because my car is in the garage – but  also because she owed me a favor for getting her other car fixed. She took us in her secondhand  daewoo -  my god what an awful car! The gears were clunky, it looks awful inside and the space in the boot was about as large as a standard small fish bowl – pretty appalling for what I thought was a cheap car manufacturer with good ideas!

New Kid on the Block (and they are driving pink cars!)

Now I am not one to pass opinion without due deliberation, usually.. But is it just me or are cars getting less serious and more…fun? 50 years ago its unlikely if they had realised the joys of plastic that the first thing they would have thought of is “ohhhh now I can stick big pink vinyl flowers over my car” – It wouldn’t and didn’t happen. Maybe I am becoming the grumpy old car critic I thought I would probably end up as or maybe the world is polluted enough already? Stick to paint people – ditch the cheap pink car decals and go for a classic old-school (you might say) pinstripe paint job.