Ploafmaster General

Wed, 20 May 2026 13:59:38 -0400

Got a text AND email from FedEx about a bill for import duties for a Bluelug delivery back in February that I already received. SCOTUS said Trump’s tariffs were illegal. Can I pay FedEx with a “fuck you”?

Wed, 20 May 2026 11:46:29 -0400

Some dumbass leaves a dockless scooter in front of a #bike rack? You better believe I’m HARD throwing that piece of shit on the ground (out of pedestrian right-of-way).

Tue, 19 May 2026 15:03:57 -0400

Because I am an insufferable nerd, I just got a set of bore gauges so I can more accurately measure the interior diameter of seat tubes and such on #bike frames 😜

Mon, 18 May 2026 14:58:51 -0400

God, this newsletter entry from Mike Monteiro on kids leaving home was really good. The last paragraph extracted some tears from me (via Kottke).

Mon, 18 May 2026 13:25:33 -0400

I finish riding my bike only to watch loads of videos about #bikes after I shower. If it wasn’t one million degrees outside today I would be working on bikes in my shed.

Sun, 17 May 2026 18:21:18 -0400

This is my first pass at something ridiculous. I have not tried it yet, just planning. The idea is a century entirely within (or along) city borders. I give you the Richmond Stupid 100 v1: www.strava.com/routes/34…

Sat, 16 May 2026 16:36:02 -0400

Tired (but beautiful) #bike ride. Glorious food and cocktails at ZZQ. Warm stroll around Carytown. Nearly zonking out on the sofa.

Saturday deluxe.

Fri, 15 May 2026 10:00:31 -0400

It’s Bike to Work Day and, if I felt valued by my employer, I might have biked to the office nobody uses anymore.

Instead I may bike FOR work today.

Wed, 13 May 2026 21:13:25 -0400

I’m such a huge fan of Maxxis DTH tires that I wish they made them in 27.5 size. Even in 26” with tubes at 40 PSI, they’re comfy and have a versatile, fast-rolling tread.

Mon, 11 May 2026 18:55:01 -0400

For whatever reason I’ve never been a big Sonic Youth fan, but dang it, “Incinerate” wore me down over the years. I dig that song, at least.

Sun, 10 May 2026 18:23:50 -0400

Because of chaotic kid event scheduling we couldn’t get a reservation for a nice Mother’s Day meal. So I made steak and mashed potatoes (and hard-roasted broccoli) for Valerie. I tried the reverse sear method on some baller NY strips and HOLY GLOB! Best steak in years.

Sun, 10 May 2026 10:41:09 -0400

Some gal at this state gymnastics meet just used “Tank!” by SEAT BELTS (theme from Cowboy Bebop) for her floor routine, and it ruled.

Sat, 09 May 2026 17:10:13 -0400

Ruby Scoops for the birthday boy (my now 10YO kid)

Haute Cycles Open House

Sat, 09 May 2026 14:45:09 -0400

It’s bike month! Last night there was an open house at the Richmond Bicycle Factory in the Southside that started with a ride-out from Scuffletown Park in The Fan. Roughly 4.5 miles of party pace cruising with 20-30 riders and their dope bikes was a fantastic warmup (after my already 37 miles of riding before I showed up).

It’s super awesome that we have production and custom bikes made right here in town, and we all got to see the operations for Haute Bicycle Co., Far Far (Robbie from the late, great Wheel Simple), Chumba’s Richmond production situation, and G.O.A.T. Bike Co. So many cool people making cool things just across the river from me. There were snacks, beverages, and good vibes enough for twice the crowd. I even ran into an old coworker from my first job!

Check out some more of the sights around the shop:

track frame with a really cool paintn job of drizzle-style paint over a solid base coat">

Sat, 09 May 2026 11:37:26 -0400

Alex Melton posted a real banger yesterday, a perfect intersection of my late teenage pop punk interests and the Paul Simon music that was one of my favorite songs (and videos) from my childhood:

Fri, 08 May 2026 22:24:34 -0400

Good lort, I got to ride 50+ miles on the #bike today. What stupendous weather, too.

Wed, 06 May 2026 20:24:50 -0400

Shorter John Roberts: “Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah”

Wed, 06 May 2026 12:55:29 -0400

I was taping a frame and fork to prepare for clear-coating and I was starting to add little tape nubs in every little M5 hole (bottle cages, etc.) but then I realize since I have an M5 tap I can just chase those threads afterward if there are any issues adding a bottle cage or rack or whatever :-P

Tue, 05 May 2026 07:35:11 -0400

I’m really not a music festival kinda guy, but day-um, the lineup for this year’s Iron Blossom Festival in Richmond is super tempting. LCD Soundsystem? Angine de Poitrine?

Sun, 03 May 2026 22:45:07 -0400

Feels like I leveled up as a home #bike mechanic today. I successfully converted a rear wheel with a solid, nutted axle to a quick release axle!

Flyweight

Sat, 02 May 2026 13:08:53 -0400

So uh…yeah. New bike day, I guess? Check out this bright orange, sub-16 lb., 2013 (I’m pretty sure) Motobecane Immortal Team road bike.

MASSIVE shout-out to my friend Ross for giving me this bike that he was otherwise going to leave in the alley. Of course, I’m not a carbon road bike dude, so I’m not going to keep the bike as-is. But this thing has a full 2x10 mechanical Dura Ace group, Mavic Kyserium wheel set, Ritchey WCS carbon seat post, and butted Ritchey WCS road bars.

I’m planning to keep at least the brifters (I mean, seriously, 2x10 mechanical DURA ACE!?) and front derailleur. The BB feels good and has outboard 24mm cups in silver. The rear mech is maybe too short for my needs. I’ll have to check whether the bars are too narrow (they probably are). So here’s what I’m probably going to put up on Marketplace:

rear derailleur
wheel set
carbon seat post
handlebars, probably
stem (not original, but still Ritchey adjustable angle stem)
I love the rim brakes—beautiful color, Dura Ace, quick release, maaaaybe mid-reach? but I think they’re too narrow to be useful for me
probably the crankset (52/39, outer ring not changeable)
the rear cassette, if it’s in decent enough shape and cleans up okay
the frame itself, as long as it doesn’t have any cracks

I’ve now bought quite a few things on Marketplace, but haven’t sold anything yet, so I’m going to be pretty slow getting around to that, but I’m hoping I can offload some of these things and maybe set the proceeds aside to get me a proper wheel truing stand :-D

Fri, 01 May 2026 13:57:00 -0400

Astonishingly good weather, loads of #bike riding, bagel sandwich, coffee, lunch with my friend, more coffee, and the ding-dang onset of the weekend.

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:15:13 -0400

Today was the first day in 2026 that the sun set at 8 PM in Richmond, Virginia.

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:46:06 -0400

I know it’s not an original thought, but I can never get over how much Kash Patel looks like Amazing Larry from Peewee’s Big Adventure.

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:52:03 -0400

Gotta love how our president is so shitty that famous charisma vacuum King Charles doesn’t want any of his meetings with Trump on camera because it could be awkward.