Spencer Carran
@spencercarran.bsky.social
Scientist, trombonist, cyclist, union member
Those advisory bike lanes are such a massive fumble on what was otherwise a huge improvement to the Granville status quo. Drivers don't seem to realize that they're supposed to move back to the center and not just camp in the bike lane
November 21, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Those advisory bike lanes are such a massive fumble on what was otherwise a huge improvement to the Granville status quo. Drivers don't seem to realize that they're supposed to move back to the center and not just camp in the bike lane
18th goes right to the LFT. Bizarre urban planning choice to make the approach to our lowest-stress biking area be a deadly free-for-all
November 21, 2025 at 6:24 PM
18th goes right to the LFT. Bizarre urban planning choice to make the approach to our lowest-stress biking area be a deadly free-for-all
I don't think I have ever gotten a flat close enough to an open bike shop that it would have been faster to walk my bike there than to fix it myself
August 5, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I don't think I have ever gotten a flat close enough to an open bike shop that it would have been faster to walk my bike there than to fix it myself
oh no it's started already
June 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM
oh no it's started already
Ugh I'm sorry about my dipshit neighbors from the traffic violence promotion caucus
February 12, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Ugh I'm sorry about my dipshit neighbors from the traffic violence promotion caucus
In grad school I had to pass through frat row to get to campus. Monday morning after a football game was just a field of broken glass.
Maxxis re-fuse, never a single puncture. Also taken em through the debris fields of auto crashes with plenty of metal shrapnel. They might be literally bulletproof
Maxxis re-fuse, never a single puncture. Also taken em through the debris fields of auto crashes with plenty of metal shrapnel. They might be literally bulletproof
December 12, 2023 at 3:30 AM
In grad school I had to pass through frat row to get to campus. Monday morning after a football game was just a field of broken glass.
Maxxis re-fuse, never a single puncture. Also taken em through the debris fields of auto crashes with plenty of metal shrapnel. They might be literally bulletproof
Maxxis re-fuse, never a single puncture. Also taken em through the debris fields of auto crashes with plenty of metal shrapnel. They might be literally bulletproof
Moar wool then, got it
December 3, 2023 at 6:33 PM
Moar wool then, got it
I keep debating whether I should shell out for a fancier (and more "realistic") trainer or just buy even more wool layers and keep biking in the snow
December 3, 2023 at 6:01 PM
I keep debating whether I should shell out for a fancier (and more "realistic") trainer or just buy even more wool layers and keep biking in the snow
Got a pair of spiky Schwalbes on deck for snow/ice season, suppose I could be on same brand for the rest of the year too
December 1, 2023 at 12:07 AM
Got a pair of spiky Schwalbes on deck for snow/ice season, suppose I could be on same brand for the rest of the year too
Thanks for the offer, but I think the one I just put on will be ok for a while. Though if there are any tires in the 35-38 range you've been enthusiastic about, I wouldn't mind recommendations. Annoying skip in maxxis re-fuse sizes from 32 (bit small) to 40 (pushing fender clearance)
November 30, 2023 at 11:31 PM
Thanks for the offer, but I think the one I just put on will be ok for a while. Though if there are any tires in the 35-38 range you've been enthusiastic about, I wouldn't mind recommendations. Annoying skip in maxxis re-fuse sizes from 32 (bit small) to 40 (pushing fender clearance)
Those are 35s. I'm gonna try to slap on an old 32 and/or commute by fixie a couple days
November 30, 2023 at 11:02 PM
Those are 35s. I'm gonna try to slap on an old 32 and/or commute by fixie a couple days
There's nothing preventing speed camera violations being cross-referenced with the driver's tax return and fines scaled appropriately
November 27, 2023 at 8:16 PM
There's nothing preventing speed camera violations being cross-referenced with the driver's tax return and fines scaled appropriately
I think I did exactly one ride on 23s, right when I bought an 80s road bike. Immediately went to the bike shop and asked them for something else
November 22, 2023 at 5:29 PM
I think I did exactly one ride on 23s, right when I bought an 80s road bike. Immediately went to the bike shop and asked them for something else
I mean 25s are just the objectively incorrect choice for road bikes too, especially with Chicago potholes
(I'm still running them on 2/3 of my bikes, but will be swapping out when current sets finally die)
(I'm still running them on 2/3 of my bikes, but will be swapping out when current sets finally die)
November 22, 2023 at 5:20 PM
I mean 25s are just the objectively incorrect choice for road bikes too, especially with Chicago potholes
(I'm still running them on 2/3 of my bikes, but will be swapping out when current sets finally die)
(I'm still running them on 2/3 of my bikes, but will be swapping out when current sets finally die)
Fwiw I think studded 35mm tires (easy enough to fit in any touring or gravel bike) are more than sufficient for any of the snowfall I've seen in Chicago so far
November 22, 2023 at 4:17 PM
Fwiw I think studded 35mm tires (easy enough to fit in any touring or gravel bike) are more than sufficient for any of the snowfall I've seen in Chicago so far
Gotta get the insulated thermoses so you can have soup in one bottle cage and coffee in the other
October 27, 2023 at 7:41 PM
Gotta get the insulated thermoses so you can have soup in one bottle cage and coffee in the other
I have enough rain gear that weather conditions wouldn't dissuade me, but it's probably rude to attend crowd events while COVID+ so I'll have to miss this month 😔
October 27, 2023 at 7:34 PM
I have enough rain gear that weather conditions wouldn't dissuade me, but it's probably rude to attend crowd events while COVID+ so I'll have to miss this month 😔
I've logged tons of commuting miles on fixie, it's great having fewer moving parts and less stuff to go wrong
October 13, 2023 at 8:56 PM
I've logged tons of commuting miles on fixie, it's great having fewer moving parts and less stuff to go wrong