11/13/2019 0 Comments WINTER commutingI recently made an Instagram post about winter commuting. The bike I ride, what I wear. I wanted to go a little further into that so here is that post, with annotations heh heh
Original Post: www.instagram.com/p/B4x_jVrAcH9/ The bike: Bridgestone BB1 (thanks @clarkmanbiker for the free frame!!) steel and keeps it VERY real. With 26" Mavic Crossride wheelset (This is a spare wheelset my dad gifted me when he gave me his super sick all OG 2005 Gary Fisher Ziggurat hardtail MTB) and Halo Twin Rails (Take offs brought to the shop by a regular) which are surprisingly very grippy on crunchy ice and other fun road conditions. (I do have studded tires for the realllllly bad days.) A simple 1x9 friction shifter with an Ultegra rear derailleur. (If you're not gonna single speed it, which is another mode of riding I adore, I would recommend K.I.S.S. The less going on, the less you have to clean salt off of, or screw up. Friction shifting is a dream. Look in the terminology tab under resources to understand what it is.) Enough gears to speed up on faster days but can easily putz around slowly and safely when weather requires. Rear rack and basket keeps the weight in the back so I don't have to white knuckle it to go in a straight line on slick days. (I hate wearing things on my back, I don't like shifting the weight and I don't like sweating more than I must. having your bike carry your goods is pretty neat and handy in many ways. Also I put a sheet of plastic coated cardboard, *something i half found half made from trash* between the rack and basket so my stuff and myself can stay dry on the ride in. Free fender babiiiiiii ) This has been a super solid rig so far and am v stoked to have it between my legs. ** The gear: Recently I have acquired all my new favorite pieces of clothing. (Through gifts, thrifting or buying used goods from friends. Nothing full price, hell yes) When I ride in the cold I've got my Surly Riding Jacket (This is a waxed canvas jacket with a wool liner and a bunch of perfectly placed pockets, and it has those thumby things in the cuffs!) (thanks @billfartindale ) over a denim jumpsuit ($24 on the Target sale rack, thanks mom!) which I have been wearing as my new snowsuit. (It's so nice to be totally covered like this because theres no draft down my pants!) A flannel or work shirt and then wool long sleeve base. A bamboo fabric bra is really nice to, no sweat around your boobs is a gooood feeling. (bra top from here! https://butterbykelsylefler.com/) Fleece riding leggings on the bottom. Waterproof hiking boots, wools socks, hat, buff and gloves to top it all off!!! I keep different shoes and an extra sweatshirt at the shop too. ** Maybe it's because I didn't have to live through one last year but I'm optimistic about this Michigan winter and riding in the snow and cold! ** Ok thanks for coming to my TedTalk 🙆
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11/13/2019 0 Comments Welcome wenchsHowdy everyone!
I wanna welcome you to THE WRENCHING WENCH, a website that shares the beauty and woes of being on the outside of the boys club in the bike community. I am a bicycle mechanic currently wrenching at Grand Rapids Bicycle Company. I am 99% sure I am their first female mechanic. There are awesome women that work there, don't get me wrong, and they've had an awesome female manager there in the past as well! I am just always surprised with how few women I know of or encounter work in the mechanical side of bicycling. How many female frame and component makers do you know? Hell, how many women racers can you name!? Personally I think I can only name like, 2 or 3 each!? Why is there such a disparity. Being a minority in this realm can be pretty sweet, being one of the guys, feeling like an insider. But it totally bums me out when I'm kicking it with my peers and I look around and I don't see any other of my fellow femmes! I want everyone to get the inside scoop. I could probably go on and on but I'll stop here. If you're with me, or wanna get where I'm coming from, stay tuned. Here on this site you can find my personal mish-mash of bike and gear nerdiness but also tales from my shop life, and life life. All of these things create who I am so it may blend. I think it'll be cool to see how it all plays out from a women's perspective. I won't be the only one doing the talking either! Interviews with bbs and heros in my community and beyond will help clue you in or encourage you to feel inspired and empowered. Also you can find resources for: Events How to's / DIY Terminology Cool articles to stoke the stoke This isn't really an experiment, it's not eulogy, it's not a diary about my period either. There's no apologizing for how this looks or feels. This is just something I want to see in the world because I haven't seen it yet. If you do have constructive criticism or ideas for posts or interviews I am VERY open to it. Other than that, away we go! |
AuthorLiz is a bike mechanic in Grand Rapids MI. She is one of two female mechanics in the city. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Drawing and has one dog and one hedgehog. Archives
March 2021
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