DeFeet welcomes company Founder and Chief Sockologist, Shane Cooper, as a contributor to the DeFeet Chronicles. You can learn more about Shane in his profile at right. Shane is a much greater fan of the spoken word vs. the written word. He is an artist, in many ways, and quite frankly does not like to be bound by the rules of grammar or even the English language, for that matter. Shane does not like to be bound by anything, in fact. Interestingly, we found that in preparing written materials for this site, that it was easier to carry on a written conversation than to make the Chief Sockologist sit down and make something come out. We all know that over time he will become more comfortable, and likely very adept, at doing that. So, please welcome Shane Cooper.
TEA TIME WITH PAUL & SHANE, Take 1
PW: Coop, it seems like commuting is one of your favorite subjects, anymore. You're nicer to be around. You're more confident in your own pants. You think you look good or somethin. Your bike could light the dark side of the moon. Are you a Battlestar Gallactica fan? No matter what you say, I know the answers to some of these things. Honestly, I think a stronger commitment to commuting to work by bike over the years has molded you into someone better. Maybe.
Left: Shane Cooper's vast commuting ensemble. Not a setup for the 'faint of wheel'. Also, very safety conscious.
SC: Funny you should ask...I do like movies with GladEators...what I have found about commutin is...its cool...I kinda look like PeeWee Herman...I have enough lights on my bike to be the ship in Close Encounters...I have a ring-a- ding bell to let unprepared walkers know I am whizzing past...they all walk on the wrong side...I think I will mace a few tonight....I now carry a Bear Spray for nasty hill dogs....yet to use it...but a nasty red neck bastard stared me down as he pull his 4x4 in front of my path yesterday...i swear he looked like a junk yard dog...had a collar on though. His bit would have been a gumming...as his teeth...the ones he still had were kinda grey and crumbling.... I like to ride in my Sugoi ShortShorts...keeps yer balls cool...I also dont wear a cycling pad...unless I am going for more than an hour. I think breaks are very important on a commuting bike...as mine weighs about 39lbs...remember my rack break in Germany? That made me take the strength of a frame to heart.
At left: Rednecks beware. Cooper is not kidding when he says he carries bear spray. This amount is enough for a sow grizz protecting her cubs. Should be enough to phase a lowdown, rabid red with a Union Jack on the roof. Only better placement than here would be on the helmet or attached to an arm band in the event of an encounter away from the bicycle. Never suprise a red or stare directly into their eyes. Cooper is considering wearing a bell, too.
PW: I'm not suprised you mentioned your boys. You should say 'boys', by the way. I've seen you looking at yourself in the mirror, appreciating how commuting has helped the optical illusion of your belly vs. another part of your anatomy. That's good. You should be proud. But, moving on, why do you have to attach so many things to your bike? That Co-Motion should be sub 30. The bear spray bottle is a really good idea, based on what you done learnt, yesterday.
Expanding on your rack problem in Germany for our readers: Shane and I rode our bikes to the Eurobike Show, every day, 10 miles each way. Doesn't sound like much until you factor in a trade show day in between. Full racks and bags. Part of our route was on dirt roads. Each day on the way home we'd have a prize for the winner at the top of the dirt part. It was a difficult section - fast, rocky, doubletrack straightaway into a 90 degree, off camber, 8ft wide left turn, then immediately uphill for 300 meters to the finish. This day, Shane stuck it hard into the turn, both wheels chattering, bags swaying. I thought I heard a giggle. Probably a wheeze. He had a 20ft lead on me coming out of it. I saw him stand up over his bike like a gorilla beating a monkey, and I knew he wasn't gonna let up. I had to give everything. My 30lbs of computers, chords, cameras, shoes and chocolates in my Ortleib panniers made it hard to move at all. Shane was flailing away like he was about to win Fleche-Wallone. I made it to his back wheel with about 50 meters to go. Right then, the rack mounts snapped off his (homemade by him, 'Cooper' brand) frame. His rack and pannier loads of crap landed on my front wheel. I barely stayed up, and with him dragging anchor, the stage was mine. I think that day the prize was 'laughter'. Or maybe it was 'Swiss vs. British Engineering. Who wins?'.
SC: Yes true...my Mac G4 was on my rack...so I did some damage to my love (no pun intended). I was going like 32 mph out of that turn...my rack shut me down to 2 mph in 1 second....I had you fair and square...I think you used your Swiss army knife to hack off my 9 year old Cooper frame lugs...there is no way my welds failed!!!! Just like the Swiss...stories full of holes.
PW: Just stick to knitting and stay away from welding torches. I do say, let's stay on course. Tell us a bit about what commuting means to you. Physically, and (sigh), emotionally.
SC: Damn Swiss...never can take a stand...neutral as taupe...
Ok, Commuting has opened my eyes to many new things...
1. I dont have to exercise if I ride my bike 13.5 miles to
work...takes 53 mins...takes me 25 mins in Audi. 800 feet of hills
each way.
2. I dont fill my gas tank up except once per month.
3. 500 miles per week saves me 20 gallons of gas @ 3.00 per gallon
60 bucks per month
4. I see things...foxes, turtles, pocket books, pornos (not so many
any more- thanks to the web)...sometimes a monkey wrench.
5. I am hooked...there are so many cool products to get...I have
the MOONSHINE Topek HID...I would be lost with out it...My nice
Rack by SURLEY...my new for my birthday Ortlib packs.
6. One less car
7. Smelling other folks dinner
8. Looking in windows at night...
9. 44 yrs old and looking like 43!
10 fitting into 34 new Lucky pants...only to find out they are cut
big...Dooo
PW: Once again, it's been great having a tea with you, Shane. I can see that we're gonna have many more conversations down the road. Keep the rubber side down on that commute, and keep that 43 yr. old package good'n tight. Way to keep it real. Cheers.
Looking at Cooper's dash, it's obvious that he is a man of the sciences. Note the personal weather station. Cooper feels it's a 'must use' instrument in his product testing procedures. Bar-end mirrors are positioned to point right back at him, allowing unobstructed view of either side of his profile at any time.
TEA TIME WITH PAUL & SHANE, Take 1
PW: Coop, it seems like commuting is one of your favorite subjects, anymore. You're nicer to be around. You're more confident in your own pants. You think you look good or somethin. Your bike could light the dark side of the moon. Are you a Battlestar Gallactica fan? No matter what you say, I know the answers to some of these things. Honestly, I think a stronger commitment to commuting to work by bike over the years has molded you into someone better. Maybe.
SC: Funny you should ask...I do like movies with GladEators...what I have found about commutin is...its cool...I kinda look like PeeWee Herman...I have enough lights on my bike to be the ship in Close Encounters...I have a ring-a- ding bell to let unprepared walkers know I am whizzing past...they all walk on the wrong side...I think I will mace a few tonight....I now carry a Bear Spray for nasty hill dogs....yet to use it...but a nasty red neck bastard stared me down as he pull his 4x4 in front of my path yesterday...i swear he looked like a junk yard dog...had a collar on though. His bit would have been a gumming...as his teeth...the ones he still had were kinda grey and crumbling.... I like to ride in my Sugoi ShortShorts...keeps yer balls cool...I also dont wear a cycling pad...unless I am going for more than an hour. I think breaks are very important on a commuting bike...as mine weighs about 39lbs...remember my rack break in Germany? That made me take the strength of a frame to heart.
PW: I'm not suprised you mentioned your boys. You should say 'boys', by the way. I've seen you looking at yourself in the mirror, appreciating how commuting has helped the optical illusion of your belly vs. another part of your anatomy. That's good. You should be proud. But, moving on, why do you have to attach so many things to your bike? That Co-Motion should be sub 30. The bear spray bottle is a really good idea, based on what you done learnt, yesterday.
Expanding on your rack problem in Germany for our readers: Shane and I rode our bikes to the Eurobike Show, every day, 10 miles each way. Doesn't sound like much until you factor in a trade show day in between. Full racks and bags. Part of our route was on dirt roads. Each day on the way home we'd have a prize for the winner at the top of the dirt part. It was a difficult section - fast, rocky, doubletrack straightaway into a 90 degree, off camber, 8ft wide left turn, then immediately uphill for 300 meters to the finish. This day, Shane stuck it hard into the turn, both wheels chattering, bags swaying. I thought I heard a giggle. Probably a wheeze. He had a 20ft lead on me coming out of it. I saw him stand up over his bike like a gorilla beating a monkey, and I knew he wasn't gonna let up. I had to give everything. My 30lbs of computers, chords, cameras, shoes and chocolates in my Ortleib panniers made it hard to move at all. Shane was flailing away like he was about to win Fleche-Wallone. I made it to his back wheel with about 50 meters to go. Right then, the rack mounts snapped off his (homemade by him, 'Cooper' brand) frame. His rack and pannier loads of crap landed on my front wheel. I barely stayed up, and with him dragging anchor, the stage was mine. I think that day the prize was 'laughter'. Or maybe it was 'Swiss vs. British Engineering. Who wins?'.
SC: Yes true...my Mac G4 was on my rack...so I did some damage to my love (no pun intended). I was going like 32 mph out of that turn...my rack shut me down to 2 mph in 1 second....I had you fair and square...I think you used your Swiss army knife to hack off my 9 year old Cooper frame lugs...there is no way my welds failed!!!! Just like the Swiss...stories full of holes.
PW: Just stick to knitting and stay away from welding torches. I do say, let's stay on course. Tell us a bit about what commuting means to you. Physically, and (sigh), emotionally.
SC: Damn Swiss...never can take a stand...neutral as taupe...
Ok, Commuting has opened my eyes to many new things...
1. I dont have to exercise if I ride my bike 13.5 miles to
work...takes 53 mins...takes me 25 mins in Audi. 800 feet of hills
each way.
2. I dont fill my gas tank up except once per month.
3. 500 miles per week saves me 20 gallons of gas @ 3.00 per gallon
60 bucks per month
4. I see things...foxes, turtles, pocket books, pornos (not so many
any more- thanks to the web)...sometimes a monkey wrench.
5. I am hooked...there are so many cool products to get...I have
the MOONSHINE Topek HID...I would be lost with out it...My nice
Rack by SURLEY...my new for my birthday Ortlib packs.
6. One less car
7. Smelling other folks dinner
8. Looking in windows at night...
9. 44 yrs old and looking like 43!
10 fitting into 34 new Lucky pants...only to find out they are cut
big...Dooo
PW: Once again, it's been great having a tea with you, Shane. I can see that we're gonna have many more conversations down the road. Keep the rubber side down on that commute, and keep that 43 yr. old package good'n tight. Way to keep it real. Cheers.