Boot bake

February 9, 2016

Happy Year of the Red Fire Monkey!  Let’s flame!  I, for one, am enjoying the flaming of some maple wood in ye olde wood-burning stove.  

That is because I woke up in time to pedal to work today but I decided it was too cold and windy.  So instead I am enjoying some nice lazy indoorsy time – stitching up ye old breeches, catching up on bills, trying to augur the auspices of this frightening new year.  What secrets will it divulge?  What ventures await our bold/cautious steps and/or wheels?

Today is also Fat (or Portly, if you prefer) Tuesday.  When you combine the two of these you’ve got a Festivale of the Portly Red Fire Monkeys!!  Waaahhhh!!?!  I’m glad I’m safely tucked away in my cozy, carbon-monoxide-blanketed/enhanced basement where I have been burning wood and waxing up ye olde boots.  

After the waxing I set them next to the fire, which in my imagination helps the wax melt in some more.  

In reality I’m pretty sure the 40 minutes I spent holding a hair dryer within a few inches of the boots got that wax about as melted in as it could get.

I have also been experiencing some very mild tightness in the chest, which I am hopeful is just a symptom of even more sedentary than usual living, my poor choice in purchasing a multi-vitamin/mineral which may have given me very mild iron poisoning (or just a shock to ye olde systeme), 

and/or home-brewed beer with some strange bourbon-wood-chips possibly somehow mixed into this potent blend. 

So, now that I am feeling a bit of ye olde cabin fever, like one Jackolaus Nickleson, 

I will take the time to see what’s happening in the world of bicycling.  Or you could just give me a call and tell me.  Telepaths, please heed my plea!?  No?  Arrighht!  I guess I can have a look at some of my usual sources (listed here so you don’t have to take my word for it and/or continue reading this ramble through the tele-paths of tangly dendrites and synappy sentimental waxing:

• http://www.bicycling.com
• http://www.bikecommuters.com
• http://omahabikes.org
• https://humancyclist.wordpress.com/2014/01/02/cycling-is-not-sexy/ (or similar)

Butt seriously, folks, it may be cold and inhospitable to bicyclers outdoors these days, but there are some good times ahead.  Perhaps I will be seeing you at the upcoming bicycle movie on Thursday?  Also there are always gift cards and/or online shopping to fill whatever voids you may be experiencing due to the prevalence of cold and ice in many parts of the northern hemisphere these days.

So let's ride, get healthy, and/or find something else fulfilling to do!  Frizzle-fry dem boots!

Senatorially groundhogging the snow

Happy Groundhog Day!

I hope you are enjoying a nice, quiet day at your home.  Or doing some snow-shoeing or some sort of skiing.  At my abode it is pretty snowy, so I stayed home from work and have been trying to feel productive.  To that end I composed the following letter to the senator:

Dear Senators,

I am contacting you to communicate my support for LB 716.  As a bicycle commuter for the past eight years, I feel that this bill provides common sense updates to existing laws.  Nebraska has done a lot to improve options for bicyclists over the past 10-20 years – many cities have multi-use trails, bicycle lanes, and signage to inform motorists of the likely presence of bicyclists.  As our state grows, I feel that our laws should grow and adapt to better serve our communities.  Communities greatly benefit by increased bicycling – better health, less motor vehicle traffic, and organized bike rides that support local economies, for example.  This bill improves and clarifies the legal status of bicyclists.  

The State of Nebraska’s Driver’s Manual states, “At intersections and roundabouts, right-of-way rules apply equally to bicyclists and motor vehicles.”  I was, therefore, surprised to learn that a bicyclist legally crossing an intersection in order to continue riding on a multi-use trail or sidewalk might not be legally entitled to the right of way.  As a boy, my mother always told me that drivers should yield the right of way to both pedestrians and bicyclists at intersections, but that drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists alike needed to “look both ways.”  These are words of advice that have kept me safe and helped me maintain a good attitude towards other road users while bicycling.  Nothing in this bill relieves the bicyclist or driver of their responsibilities to exercise care at intersections.  We all must work together to stay safe.  This bill goes so far as to clarify bicyclists’ responsibilities with the following statement, “No bicyclist shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or ride into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to stop.”  This is just common sense, and riding predictably and at safe speeds (especially at intersections) are key to safe bicycling and improving bicyclist-motorist relations. Unfortunately, a few times I have experienced vehicles turning and leaving me with less space than I felt was safe while I was crossing a crosswalk on a multi-use trail and after having pushed the crosswalk button signal.  I do not think these motorists saw me (although I typically have one or two front lights and two to three taillights).  Based on some close calls, I now ride more in the streets and less on multi-use trails because I feel that I am more visible to traffic.  This brings me to the second part of the bill. 

The elimination of the mandatory sidepath law is a common sense act that will make bicyclists feel more secure in making good decisions based on existing conditions.  Sidepaths are generally a blessing to bicyclists; however, there are times when it is safer to use an adjacent street – snow, ice, mud, or debris may prevent the safe use of side paths.  

I can imagine some would say, “Well, if these conditions exist, maybe you shouldn’t be bicycling!”  But I feel that bicycling should be an option available to us all.  It improves my mental and physical health, saves me money, and makes for one less motor vehicle on the sometimes busy streets of Omaha.

Please consider the benefits to bicyclists and your communities that you will be supporting by voting for this bill.  Thank you for your time and consideration and for your dedication in representing the people of our great state.

There you go.  That counts as community service, right officer?

Here is a fat-tyred e-bike that looks like it's pretty good for those who might be so inclined.  Ever considered getting a moped instead?  

Here is a movie that Omaha Pedalers are sponsoring on February 11 at Aksarben Cinema.  It is called Inspired to Ride, and it is produced by the same people who did Ride the Divide and Reveal the Path, both of which were quite enjoyable.  So hopefully I will see you there.

Let’s ride!  Or maybe do something else that’s fun!  Wood-burning stove and tv, here I come!

Splish, splash, sploosh!

January  30, 2016!?

As I splished and sploshed my way homewards, I came to an intersection with some sun-in-yer-face.

Hmmm, thought I, could make it difficult for motorists to see all/some of my three rear lights.  So I took a pastoral detour along a multi-use trail 

and past the construction site.

Quite relaxing and enjoyable, old chum, quite so. 

Here is a bicycling bill that may make it to the Nebraska legislature for a vote sometime this session.  Here is an article about the topic that I spied in our local newspaper.

In response to your questions and concerns, legislators, I have sent you the following statements:  (to be determined once I finish my snark attack).

To be honest, I don’t really think much about laws when I am bicycling.  I just want to be safe.  But I am sure I would be more concerned about laws if I were involved in a collision.  The current law is not explicit in protecting bicyclists in crosswalks, but it should be. 

Here is an insightful/inciteful analysis by our Senators Brasch & Smith:

Sen. Lydia Brasch of Bancroft said she has seen bicyclists ride from sidewalks into crosswalks without paying any attention to motorists. Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, the committee chairman, said he is concerned that giving cyclists right-of-way could also give them a “false sense of security,” when they should try to avoid collisions.

These senators seemed to be hinting that are boldly speculating that, should this bill pass, the crosswalks would soon become crammed and congested with inattentive bicyclists with headphones on and dogs loping lazily behind.   Ah, what a beautiful thought!  I would also like it if the crosswalks were grassed so that I could graze my goat and picnic upon my travels as well!  I would state as much in my letters, but I think the foot in the door approach might be more prudent at this juncture.

But, slightly more seriously, yes, Senator Smith, knowing that I am legally protected will immediately lower my fear of being struck and perhaps injured or killed by a vehicle wielded with abandon/near impunity/God's will by a texting teen or a sleepy septuagenarian. 

And Senator Brasch, yes, the danger of bicyclists not paying attention to motorists is nearly as serious as the threat I face daily of mass shooters unleashing hellish terror upon my cranium and sphincter (I know what you’re shooting for, you bastards!), which is why I have my concealed carry permit securely stashed next to my respirator in my survival bag securely stowed in my voluminous Nashbar pannier. 

Senator McCoy stated that he didn’t think it was necessary to remove the stipulation that bicyclers must use a multi-use path when it is available and, “Stay out of the damn street!” 

“How would this make bicycling safer?” he querulously queried!

Well, Senator McCoy, it’s because multi-use trails are frequently icy and/or mud-covered and can be dangerous.  Believe me, Beau, this does happen (I would supply photographs, but it’s been cool to cold and icy and I’ve just been concentrating on getting safely from A to B).  It’s not so bad when the mud is frozen like a delicious mudslide, but when it’s really liquidy and several inches thick, it can be a tad dicey, albeit fun.  The icy part I’m just not too crazy about.  It if for this very reason that I've recently modified my usual route to and from my place of working to include some more street bicycling in order to avoid the icy permafrost coating the multi-use trail like a lobbyist’s money lining the campaign contribution-containing pockets of our elected officials.  That shit is slick!

So, to conclude, thank you senators for your time and concerns.  I’ll be sure to get a nicey-nice letter together to illustrate my concerns in a manner that I hope you will address with less snark and more smart than my initial attempt!

Let’s all go for a ride next time you’re in town senators!  Or maybe play a game of Senet.

Edible sunshine

January 28, 2016

Well it’s been a beautiful past couple of evening rides home.  There is more light and I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy a couple nice sunsets – 

haven’t seen those for awhile! 

There have been some nice Omaha Bikes blogs by the informative and motivational Mr. Dale Robeaux Rabideau.  

Also, my Shimano SH MT31 shoes are getting pretty worn.  I think I bought them in 2008 or so, and worn them approximately 3 times/week, on average, so I guess I've gotten my $50 out of them.  Here is a photo of one, next to my ill-fitting and nigh-indestructible Duluth Trading Co. gloves.

They (the gloves, that is) are not comfortable, or much worn, even though I've had them longer than my shoes.

No disrespect intended by close-up of sole

Isn’t that the way?!  as my grandmas and grandpas would oft espouse. 

As for the shoes, as the reviews tended to say, they were great!  Comfortable, durable, good for walking.  One minor complaint was that on very long rides I would frequently suffer hot foot in these shoes.  That is why I bought another pair of shoeswith carbon soles that, thus far, seem to alleviate this issue.

As for the gloves, I recommend buying a size up, or just getting some great, reasonably priced Kinco gloves.  Or you could read Bicycling magazine’s article citing their review of some cold-weather, cycling-specific gloves.

This time of year getting enough vitamin D can be a real challenge.  I recently became aware that mushrooms have plenty of vitamin D.  You will probably be able to purchase some very nice mushrooms at the impending farmer’s market that is coming to town, called Fresh Thyme, as you can’t possibly tell by taking a look at this grainy abstract photo.

Let's all eat some nature's sunshine substitute and ride on!