Grit and bearing it

June 5, 2013

I have just noticed that I have been quite remiss in putting lists together.  Let's start to list!  Avast, ye hardies!  Dad has informed me of the following BRAN-related information:

1. There is only one public bathroom available in Sidney on Sunday during the churching hours.
2. The first two days were windy.  
3. Today was better, although they did get rained on for an hour or so.
4. The Cellar is a good place to eat in Kearney.

Today was not a bad day for bicycling in Lincoln, Nebraska, either.  It was a little wet in the a.m.  I got a little gritty on my way in to campus.  That is because the John Dietrich trail provides a variety of trail surfaces for users of all preferences.  Here was a part of the trail that was gritty in the a.m., but which had become less gritty by the p.m.

Unfortunately my self-appointed office at the institute became slightly grittified as well.  I need to remember to leave a better tip for my office assistant.  I spent the morning and early afternoon on campus wandering around and checking out the bicycle-friendliness situation.  Here was a bicycle that impressed me with its well-used appearance, its moderate and practical 18-gears, and the fun attention to safety as evinced by its horn.

I also popped in unannounced to several conferences in order to maintain a steady supply of coffee, bagels and cookies.

Here are some differences as I see them between bicycling in Omaha and in Lincoln:

1. It seems like more people ride bicycles in Lincoln.  I hypothesize that this is due to the not to sparsely populated nature of many of the square and/or circular kilometres within the City of Lincoln's boundaries.  
   
2. I have observed bicycles in residential areas, bicycles in industrial settings, and I imagine there are even some to several bicycles lurking/lounging in commercial settings.
   
   
3. Most bicyclers I have noticed in Lincoln seem more like people that happen to ride bikes than bicyclists.  

   

   Sorry for the crappy photo.  I suck.  His shirt states "Dirt Cheap."  

   Many of the bicyclers I notice in Omaha seem more like bicyclists in the sense that they have a fair amount of bicycle-specific attire and auras.  Maybe that is because the roads of Lincoln are generally more bicycle-friendly and less auto-trafficky than Omaha's.  

So to summarize, thanks Lincoln.  You're fun to bicycle in.  And you've even got a bicycle altar that I intend to offer a sacrifice at as soon as I can afford that chicken I've been eyeing.

I haven't been bicycling much lately, but I have been reading a Dr. Seuss book fairly often - One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.  There's a bike in that.  A bike with a Mike who rides in back.  And will push you up a hill.  No wonder you kids are obese. So get your fat kid a skinny/fat bike and be sure to drop the Mike option.  Fattypants.

Bicycling Bliss! Lincoln, NE?

May 21, 2013

A few days ago I engaged in what for me and many of us bicyclers is an enjoyable excursion - bicycling upon a paved multi-use trail for the first time!  To say I enjoyed it would be a bit of an understatement.  In fact, I am pumping up my tube as I type just thinking about the experience.  I have a foot pump, so it's pretty easy.  There are many names associated with the route that I used to travel from near 84th and Havelock, where I drove my car with my trusty steed Shifty attached, to the city campus of Cornhucking.  As you may recall, I have recently been self-appointed to the position of bike czar for the University of Nebraksa-Linkingham and I am literally drunk with the power.  But before I get to the be-czariness of it all, here is a visual representation of the trail I pedaled through on my way to my czardom.

If there is one another thing that we bicyclers like to pump their tubes for, it is an abundance of signage.

Based on my experiences on the John Dietrich, Murdock, and Shanda Dixon Trails, there are plenty of signs to guide one during their sojourns in our stately capitol.  I even beheld the elusive quadruple stacker

(granted two of them go together, but a triple stacker ain't too bad either, eh, old hoss?)!

It was a joyous Xcapade escapade indeed.

Then I got onto campus/my czardom where I beheld many happy bicyclers such as this one.

I also witnessed some bicycle segregation.

 Also the Huffy pictured above appears to have been the subject of some bullying, as evinced by the detached pedal in the lower left foreground.  C'mon, silver-medalers!  We are better than this!

Good to see crazy-ass locking to the rail still flies at Abel-Sandoz!  Party on!

Luckily I encountered a young lady with a parasol who brightened my mood before I returned to my vehicle via the John Dietrich, Murdock, and Shanda Dixon Trails.

Unfortunately the next day I witnessed the aftermath of a bicycle-car collision.

Thankfully it appeared to have been at relatively slow speeds, and the young lady on the bicycle was able to walk her bike away from the scene of the accident.  The motorist stopped and interacted with the bicycler in what seemed to be a civil manner and I felt it was probably as good a conclusion to an unfortunate event as could be expected.  

Anyway, thank you for riding safely and please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

                                                                              Respectfully submitted,

                                                                              Your humble czar