Journalism!

Long Beach bicycling article -- I’d say this is testimony to the INternet having enough space to really tell a story.  Yes, it’s long – but it’s reasonably deep, as well.  “The scoop,” as it were, I say with happiness that something would make me say a phrase reminiscent of the Old Days of reporting.

It includes tasty tidbits like that Long Beach got a bronze award for bike-friendliness… but, um, it was based on bogus information and outright lies, and lots of bike activists were kinda sorta accidently not included in the process.

YEt the story wasn’t spun into an oversimplified “it’s all bogus politics” cotton candy article.  It’s much more challenging to digest.  I’m going to defy the current culture and take the time to do it, especially since I’ve already said I’m taking some “sick time” tomorrow.  I have enough of a cold to need more sleep but not enough to *stay* in bed. Cycling kinda ups the health level, ya know, and those Emergen-C rations prob’ly aren’t hurting, either.  It’s a nasty, though not systemic, critter – coughing *hurts* — but no more than getting up a steep hill, and I do know the value of Thoroughly Expunging Mucosoids. (Alas, one way I know colds from The Usual Allergies is that the snot rockets don’t work so well.)

Got 1025 miles on the month    Time for Nyquil … when you decide to have some wine and then realize you got down a *bowl* from the cupboard, it’s time for bed.  (THat was after the recognition that a minute is TOO LONG for an already toasted bagel to be microwaved, but it makes an interesting color smoke.)  Think I’ll avoid sharp objects… Channel 3 called and will interview me on the morrow so I was reflecting on driving and cycling and that I decided to thwart the cultural acceptance that people just do kill people with cars and that’s just too bad…  I don’t *deny* that it’s true – but I refuse to spend more time using those dangerous and inherently destructive things than I have to.  Yes, that sounds BIZARRE – but only because, I sincerely believe, of the cultural inertia that means that “every body does it — so it *must* be okay!”  and … because denial is *so* much more comfortable.  THen there was that reflection about the “but you’re stupid to ride a bike because cars can hurt you” – which is accepting that Might Makes Right, and of course tractor trailers can hurt you, too, but you’re taking that HOnda on I-74, aren’t you? Yes, I think a lot of our Powers that Be think that as long as you are the biggest oppressor, you’re nto an oppressor because you’ll trample anybody who calls you one.

But I think I’ll try to keep the positive Urbana vibes goin – the “this is how you live IN the world, as part of it” instead of crashing through it with the toughest armor you can find.

From cycle-licious -  link to a real story about a Tallahassee bikini=clad bicycle ‘bum’ - just read it.  He could get a verse in that song about recovering heroes…

Dahon on Xtracycle

dahon on xtracycle

a balanced load :)

Took the crowbar-like thing out of the saddle bags for a much more stable ride Put oil in lock so the key comes out!  Got home before … welp, the “significant weather alert” inspiring clouds to the west stayed to the west anyway, but I beat ‘em home.

Lots of people on bikes in the “sprawlville” development just west of Countryside Day School.  Lady on trike with basket with dogs on leash; younger folks on cruisers.  Some people heading west *toward* the clouds (Peggy, hope you stayed east of it too!) as we tooled back.

Still on track for 1000 miles on the month (864 so far), and tomorrow’s a Day Off!  Time for bed…

The Fourth is Coming!

Usually it sneaks up on me.

So, how can I make my bicycle express “Lincoln’s Legacy?”  (the theme for this year)

I took half a sign language course once, and learned that the sign for  Lincoln… based on the letter “L” up on the head like his hat.  Out at a bar in West Virginia we melded that with the “I love you” sign to make “Lincoln Loves You.”  Hey, no matter how bad a day you’re having, Lincoln Loves You.  (I told my sixth grade class about that… and ‘way later in the year I was having a bad day and Lisa Gagne said it to me. Some little gestures linger fondly in the memory )

Let’s see… could I do up the back end like unto a log cabin?

I have done what was done unto me

… only it wasn’t something I’m proud of

I told that triathlete doin’ rounds at Parkland all about our “laid back” rides. Ya know, just like certain people do to me, assuming that if you’re on a hybrid and you don’t suffer from sculpted muscles that you don’t go fast? And it bugs some folks. Welp… they say they’re there couple times a week. Perhaps I’ll see ‘em again.
Trying to get to 25 and a “quarter” so I did around the block. Lady backed out of a driveway on Hawthorne with a big ol’ grin on her face… man and kid or two in the yard, with a wading pool and water, kid butt nekked and just summer. “Hello!” “How you doin?” “Excellent!” “You live here?” “Just over there…” Talk to a neighbor, dudes, wading pools and fewer clothes beats cloistered a.c. any day… except mine’s on for this week. After all, you gotta run it a bit so it works… but I’ll still talk to the neighbors…

Found Flash Flags

flash flag image

I’d only found indirect references to flash flags before; then somebody from Cycle9 linked to them, so I’m sharing the link love in the hopes they’ll move up to “findable” on the search engines of life. Oh, yea, and I’m going to order one, too — and more if I like ‘em.  It’s more “nerd” than “cute” – sorta like dressing your bicycle in high-water pants and mismatched socks – but perhaps shy of official “dork,” which means crossing the line to Safe But Gets In THe Way like vests do.  I’m afraid I’m likely to get a vest caught in my spokes not putting it on right, tho’ I’ve got a few for special occasions.

Yesterday’s “top searches”

toe clips,  oxidized bicycle,  gitap 2009,  “peter davis” urbana, il,  and windy has stormy eyes.

Yes, my bike’s a tad oxidized in spots.

Looked at some footage at my attempted filming.  That video camera doesn’t have a view finder of any sort so lots of ‘em are not at an ideal angle.  Basically, it’s not really the best instrument for the task.  Re-considering the “FLIP” camera.

Yes, I was right.  Riding through the celestial sprinkler yesterday was much more comfortable and pleasant than slogging through the sauna today.

Bumped up the bikejournal ranks a little yesterday (still not on Howard’s page, but getting closer!) and could make a 1000 mile month.  Friday’s forecast is 91 so I might just do a morning metric andthen, oh, cleanthe house and find my keys or something.

Rain :)

75 or 80 degrees this morning, so the clouds on the horizon didn’t bother me.  “Tri shorts” and a T-shirt under the gore-tex and it was like playing in the sprinkler.  Happily, not a lot of electricity.

The drive train is making lots of noise – as in, “you rode me in the rain and I’m full of grit!” so I reckon I should take it down to teh coop and get it up on a rack and take a toothbrush and Tri-flow to it.

Went back into bikejournal.com to see that last June I did 1,058 miles – and took the Trek to GITAP because the front wheel was making its first grinding (later screaming) noises.  I’m thinking that they may have fixed that setup… and that since it’s taken to consuming itself rather quickly (5000 miles?) it’s time to replace the setup… research to happen…

Back from GITAP :)

Didn’t bring ‘puter… just might bring it *and* the blender next time – ya know, if I’ve become an organized person or something.
Had a reporter on the ride (will find that & link) and talked up the Xtra a fair bit… didn’t think ’til Friday, tho’, to encourage people to get on it & try it.
Liking new saddle except for the visual unease at how, welp, if I do to saddles what my big bro does to saddles then the cutout will widen. Didn’t happen with first 400 miles, though…
Good to be back in Urbana.