Hello...Is It Me You're Looking for?

In the words of my favorite former Commodore, "Of course it is, " but alas, I'm paraphrasing. Anyhow, welcome one, welcome all to the blog. I'm proud of you for making it here. While finding Cyclotomy is but one step, it is quite possibly the most important one. You'll hopefully find yourself wasting precious minutes here before you know it.

If you're in downtown Chicago at any point these days, especially during the workweek, you already know that the number of people on bikes could not be growing faster. Well, maybe if they used this video, but that's not the point. Commuting by bike appears to have risen tenfold in popularity since last fall, and I see all types -- all of which I'll attempt to cover in this space. What with the penny-pinching and the warm fuzzy feeling around people "greening" themselves, the increase in cycling makes perfect sense. Plus, bikes have become gotta-have-it fashion accessories, right up there with iPhones and fanny packs.

Exhibit A: Lincoln Park's Dutch Bike Co. Excellent! If you want to spend $1,600 on a half-ton "practical" city bike. Or a cool $3,000 for "The Meaning of Luxury." Perfect for the working professional, who just happens to work at a pet mortuary. Exhibit B: All of the fixed-gear riders who dutifully match the colors on their rigs and pose them perfectly for photo shoots (not that there's anything wrong with it).

A bit about me:
I ride to work downtown from Oak Park every day and I think about bikes all day. I build bikes at home. I sell and buy bikes online like a day-trader on meth. I dream about nipple wrenches, crankarm lengths, and bottom bracket shells. Am I bike-obsessed? Most likely. When springtime hits in Chicago, I get my annual bug. Some people get seasonal depression, I get the "new bike fiend" and start to feel a little like Tyrone Biggums.

Here's what you can expect to find on Cyclotomy:

• News about cycling in Chicago
• Tales from rides with notes about roads, detours, etc.
  
• The scoop on local bike shops
• Dealing with the elements while commuting (weather, traffic, pedestrians, bad roads, that song that's stuck in your head -- you're welcome)
• Bike- and gear-buying tips for those just getting started (what and where to look for used and new bikes, do-it-yourself repair advice, how not to get ripped off)
• Bike- and gear-related content for experienced riders
• How to not get your bike stolen (tips for kepping it secure, what not to do)
• Funny and interesting stuff from around the cycling world on the Web
  

You'll probably also see stories from my own rides, repairs, and bike fantasies, and I'll offer advice and insight along the way.

So thanks for reading, and I encourage anyone to comment or ask questions. I'm including some of my favorite links on the right, and make it easy on yourself: subscribe to the blog on the right as well. Bookmark this page, dammit.

Until next time,
TGOTB