Hey Homers and Homees. What is the latest sense/nonsense? Good. Good?
Well let me tell you, there is some stuff happening. Why just the other day I saw this sign in someone's yard.
Nancy Kratky. Belle of the Spring Balle!
That is a sign of spring. Other signs of spring include men and women "hawking their wares" on various street corners around town. And by "hawking their wares" I mean setting up large yard sculptures that you can buy.
Well, everyone knows that spring is that special time of year in which pretty much any bird you encounter is likely to be drunk on fermented fruits of some sort, but did you know that it is also the time of year where mayoral candidates are engaged in some verbal sparring? Maybe some verbal thrusting. Parrying. You get the, touche avec accente! Mon dieu!
Here is an article I perused in my daily periodical. It's about bikes and bike lanes! Yay! If you don't care to read the entire article I can summarize it thusly, Mayor Suttle is pro-bike lane. Mayoral candidates Dan Welch and Dave Nabity are anti-bike lane. Candidate Welch states, furthermore, "I haven't seen a bike yet, but we're backing up traffic." I don't consider myself a one issue voter, but I do have a very limited attention span, so I've pretty much decided who gets my vote because I'm probably not going to read much more about this bicycle mayoral race. However a quick bicycle tour around town with the Snot might quickly change this voter's mind! I've even got a few bikes we could use. The inaugural Mayoral Candidate Bicycling Voter Wooing Ride is just what the organized bike riding season needs! How's this weekend work for you? I'll bring the fermented crab apples.
Speaking of drunken flyers, I watched Flight last weekend. I didn't care much for the plot, but Denzel Washington's flab acting was captivating.
Denzel is a largehefty big proponent of bicycling, as evidenced by this photograph of DW with the late, great Tony Scott.
It's also time for Easter. Kids will be out pedaling bicycles from church to Easter egg hunt to Easter egg hunt to the bar and then more Easter egg hunting and/or flying. Let's keep an eye out for them. Also the birds. Those crazy drunken birds! I noticed some fat, happy robins had pretty much occupied this tree that had originally been occupied by some fermented crab apples.
There were still some left, so I stopped in to see what all the fuss was about.
Hmmmm. Not too bad! The wary, inveterate drunkards were a bit stand-offish at first. But after I munched down a few perfectly fermented crab apples they seemed to accept me as one of their own. So grab yourself some fermented crab apples and meet me at the corner to check out the ware hawking/werehawks as we celebrate the Full Moonday tonight and the Maunday Thursday on Thursday! Get your pagan/Christian mofo mojo working and get festive! Yah-hoy!
You, like me, may be a USian. We dwell proudly atop our Mexican neighbors like loud neighbors that like to party and might occasionally allow their dogs to pee out on the balcony. I have not yet given in to the allure of the siren/vixen we call Netflix. That is because I, like countless some other USians, like to get my lazy ass in gear to get up and go to the DVD rental vending machine or Blockbuster in order to procure my videos.
It is my theory that people are moderately active for 2 basic reasons. The first group of people is moderately active because they realize that by being active they will feel better, be fitter and healthier. So they are active. The second group of people (the number 2s) like to do stuff that is fun, but also happens to involve moderate activity. I fall, with a decisive sounding plop, into the number 2 category. I like to watch movies, so I get out and run or bicycle to a place that has DVDs for rent. I like to have money, so I ride my bicycle to my place of work at the old fern rehabilitation clinic each day to earn some bread, man. I am not above fooling myself into exercising by creating some far-fetched seeming goal. Like going hiking somewhere. Or going rock-climbing somewhere. Although I actually do not do these activities, I can picture them happening, so I occasionally do some exercising towards that end. I also enjoy being involved in missions. Missions aren't meant to be easy. If it was nice out, it would be easy to walk over to the Redbox to get a movie. But if its cold and slightly snowy, then its more like a mission. Not one of the best missions, but a mission nonetheless.
Here is a video about one of the best missions.
When I got to the Redbox a guy with a cowboy had and a moustache was there first and was quick about getting his flick.
"Too cold for that, man!" he opined at me.
I was wearing my torn Bianchi tights and running shoes. Some other stuff too.
"I was thinking about that on the way over." I responded, in a manner that was unusually conversational and thoughtful for me. He informed me that he liked to bicycle, but that when his buddy called him recently, he declined the offer to bicycle. Running was one thing, it's not like you're going 30 mph. Bicycling you could go 30 (with a tail wind) and it feels damn cold. Although I didn't argue the point that it doesn't feel that cold when you've got a tail wind, I agreed with his general point that bicycling in the cold feels colder than running. He informed me that he did some indoor exercising (stationary bicycling and walking on a treadmill), but that he couldn't run anymore due to a knee injury he had sustained while fooling around, playing some football with his buddies. He laughingly encouraged me to stay warm and I wished him a fine afternoon.
This exchange prompted me to consider some things, for a change. One: I should probably avoid recreational sports. I have already sworn off soccer due to some contact that my balls had received from a rather briskly moving soccer ball. I would probably have played ultimate frisbee if anyone had mentioned it to me before my shoulder injury. But I don't think I would anymore since I found out that ultimate frisbee is likely to result in shoulder injury. This happened to be of slight benefit to me, as I was able to find these shoulder rehab exercises on an ultimate frisbee website.
A buddy of mine hurt his ankle playing basketball, and it kind of hurts my lower back when I try to play basketball. And I suck at it. These anecdotes have convinced me that if I am involved in any of these activities I should be prepared to accept debilitating injury as a result. I don't want that. But on the upside, if you get injured doing something, there's still a pretty good chance you'll be able to bicycle. It's good for your knees.
Table tennis/ping-pong, darts, maybe some pool. These are appropriate activities for a moderately active man like me.
Reflections of a current and future time. Toke up on that hombres and hombrissimos.
Been watching any basketball? I kind of like to watch basketball towards the end of the season. And I played basketball for a while in junior high. I made a basket when they let me play for a couple minutes one time. It woulda been a 3-pointer if they had those back then. What? You don't believe me? Fine, you're probably right, but I can remember it how I want to damn it!
One thing I've learned from watching several hours of the NCAA men's basketball tournament is that everyone's favorite NBA baller, Kevin Durant, is an avid bicyclist.
He talks about it in his Degree commercial.
And, as we all know, bicycling and basketball go together like bicycling, basketball, and a skateboard.
So let's all get out there and do some cool bicycling! The soundtrack may be stolen from a porno, but the video is PG. Let's actively chill!
Something that often accompanies a moderately active lifestyle, like my own, is a chance to take a break from moderate activity due to mild injury. As I have often complained about to anyone who would listen, my shoulder hurts. Yesterday I was flying homewards on my gritty steed of heavily recalcitrant justice with the wind pushing me powerfully along on a swooping downhill. Then I hit a little bump and felt a shart sharp pain in my shoulder! Now, as time goes by, I have reluctantly become used to having at least one dull, nagging pain most of the time. But sharp pain generally gets my attention. So I have resolved to cease and desist in my extremely moderate activity until I receive this shoulder brace
that I ordered from Jenson Cycles just now. I will plan on wearing it while bicycling and while hefting babies. Especially the hefty ones. Both bicycles and babies. I'll probably have to wait to spray down the Bastard too. Luckily I've got a Beertender full of Heineken and a large tin of popcorn to keep me company on the couch during my recovery.
Well I guess I'll go get some ice on this guy. Happy spring or recovery or whatever!
It is almost time for the annual vernal equinox! Are you ready?! Good! Me too. Although it's not happened to me before, this past week I heard two people mention seeing a person bicycling in snowy conditions. They seemed surprised. One guy said, "Dude. Really?" Yes, dude. Really. Snowy bicycling isn't just a fringe activity, it's a fun activity! People are so into winter bicycling that they make websites pertaining to it. Like this one. Or this one. Or even this one. My favorite is the REI one. But the topic of winter bicycling (as in all thing bicycle) is a contentious one. I think that each bicycle rider will eventually decide the best way to enjoy some winter cycling. But I would like to point out some differences in opinion that I have with some of these authors. Panniers not advised in the winter (REI) because you it will make you too wide? What?! Panniers aren't much wider than my fat ass. Or my handlebars. And they've got reflective tape on 'em! I'm pretty sure they make bicycling safer, not just in the winter, but year round! Three cheers for panniers! Hip, hip, HUZZAH! Okay. And once I read a blog about needing a different bicycle for winter riding? What, are you trying to sell me a bicycle? This is an icy, slippery slope, friends. It's pretty easy to rationalize needing another bicycle for different circumstances. But you can probably also take the bike you've already got and get it set up so that it'll do most things pretty well. And you've gotta put diapers on the baby and food on the table and make sure that they don't get mixed up! So get it together, dammit!
Unfortunately the winter bicycling season is winding down. I'll be hanging up the Winter bicycle and taking down the Springy bicycle (these are actually the same bicycle, but I take the blinkies off my tyre tube stems once spring arrives. Oh and I should probably try to spray off some of the grit).
What else is going on in the world of bicycling? Well, the League of American Bicyclists is currently accepting membership applications.
Do you ever get a song stuck in your head when you are pedaling? Yes! I know you do! Me too! Today it was "Quinn the Eskimo." I think my wife was right and that this is a song about drugs. And it's catchy, which is appropriate. My guess is quaaludes.
As we all know. Bob Dylan is increasingly incoherent. But. We still. Love you Bob! (similar punctuation to William Shatner, but different intonation). Do you have 15 minutes to spare? Maybe you would enjoy listening to the title track from Bob's latest recording, Tempest (I heard this one on Sirius XM Deep Tracks channel). Sorry, but I'm unable to locate this one on youtube. I know, this entry just keeps getting more and more disappointing, but don't worry, like winter, it's almost over (and here's a substitute song).
But just as Bob will keep on singin', we winter bicycle enthusiasts will probably keep on spinnin'. Whether you like it or not! But you may as well join in, because you don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows (from the north, mostly, these days)! Like a rollin' stone, Bridgestone that is!
I don't have to tell you, but I will anyway. It was quite a day today! You went through it too, so you know! It got pretty warm here. So there were many people doing outsidey things. The lacrosse team was out practicing on their recently de-snowed field.
Many runners were doing some fleet-footed dog wrangling.
I made it to the bar before happy hour ended. Way before, as it turned out happy hour wasn't over 'til 7. I was alright with that.
Do you like multiple-possible-uses trails? Yeah! Who doesn't, right! I was just thinking how cool they were. And then I got a Rails to Trails magazine in the mail a few days back! Serendipitous! Rails to trails usually end up as multi-use trails. Do you have a favorite RtT? Hmmmm. That one sounds good. I like the Wabash Trace Trail because it is my "homey-townie" trail that I enjoy frequently. I have also been on the Katy Trail down in Mizzou. It was pretty neat.
I think rails are good places to build trails. Here's a multi-use trail next to a road which is next to a rail which is also next to a creek!
The creek's off to the right. There's a crick there too!
Pretty f-ing great, eh? Talk about multi-use! Hip waders, spandex, driving thong/scarf/cap, or overalls. They all work!
Do you remember awhile back I saw this crazy thing in a gas station in Amarillo?
No? Well, I do and now I have discovered it's called a quadracycle. That thing would be pretty cool to take out on a former rail that has become a trail. Or into traffic if you wanted to piss off motorists.
Although I try not to think much about it, I am aware that occasionally conflicts between motorists and bicyclists occur. This is unfortunate. In some of the wise words of one Rodney G. King, "Can't we all just get along?" You know you bicyclists are probably motorists sometimes. And you motorists have also been astride a 2-wheeled machine of some sort, too, you know. So there.
Yesterday the multi-use trails were still pretty snowy and icy. I rode into the streets and up a hill (yes, Nebraska has some of those) and a car chirped its brakes right behind me. Although I was slightly unnerved, I quickly assured myself that that is a good sound to hear. Better than not hearing it and not being seen and/or steered around. Observant motorists, your vigilance is appreciated.
Generally my fellow motorists and I get along pretty well, I like to think. I am afraid that pity might have something to do with it, however. I ride slow. I wheeze. It makes motorists feel pretty damn good about their situation. Kind of like how everyone smiles when they're watching someone else get all mucked up doing some type of dirty job. Like in that show.
Speaking of hills, I saw a flyer advertising this run at Platte River State Park. It looks pretty cool. I have ridden these trails a few times, but running them would be a little much for this crotchety coot. Maybe next year or never. I think I'm starting to feel the allure of the quadracycle with the fam, a cooler and a nice Rails to Trails route. Oh, yeah! See you there!
WARNING: This post has some profanity. Completely unnecessary profanity! I'm so ashamed! Ach! You should probably stop reading. If you haven't already. Wait! I'm sorry. I didn't mean it! Please! Come back! *(&(*&@$#(!!!!
As anyone who has ever perused this wide-world-web-based journal has experienced in what may feel like a nearly first-hand ad nauseum manner, bicycle propelling here in the large O is 1 non-stop adrenaline explosion. In your face! Or as we like to call it here in town, Odrenaline. Take, for example, these ducks.
Pretty freaking feathery, right?! Or these geese!
They're necks ain't straight! Or at least that one on the left. That other one's got better posture than me (not saying much)!
I encountered these critters when I went out to retrieve my Illuminite jacket from the tailor. "Are you riding bike?" asked the tailor. "Hells yeah!" I expostulated exclamatorily. He laughed his high-pitched, kinda sarcastic sounding laugh like only he can. Not really sure how to interpret that. Or life itself. But bike-riding? I sure as hells know how to interpret that. Like this:! WHHOOOO!
I'm still coming down from that massive Odrenaline rush!
Sometimes nature herself will intervene in our strange mood swings, however. And that is what occurred this time, as the earth and other incidental objects...
... became blanketed in snow. I don't know why this bicycle is upside-down. Do you? If so, please explain. My usual wild-guesswork (which is just how I live life, cranky fool!) would have me believe that the Huffy powerer was fine-tuning her shifting when she noticed it was snowing and decided, "Fuck it." and left.
Speaking of snow, I just picked up the first Red Hot Chili Peppers recording I have purchased since Mother's Milk. And it's got a song on it that is called "Snow." It's not bad. They sing about snow the way only people who hardly ever deal with snow can. Kind of romantically.
I know, from my knowledge of RHCP lyrics that, "Me, I'm from Mich-i-gan" so I'm sure that AK has been around snow before, but maybe it's been awhile. The Jupiter half of the Stadium Arcadium double-disc set is so far very melodic. Kind of annoyingly so, but I'm only through track 6 so far. I like the Chili Peppers almost as much as they like to ride funky bikes.
thechilisource.com
camissabicycles.co.za
With proper protective gear (i.e., well-cushioned tube socks for their tubes) of course.
I also got a Regina Spektor CD, which is simply beautiful! Melodic as all fuck, yo! Regina is also no stranger to the cycle of bi-ness.
And she's got a song that mentions snow too. In kind of a neutral sort of way.
Well I haven't been out to bicycle in this latest batch of snow. Why? Well, because, as I explained to a co-worker at my fluffy pet daycare working place, I'm scared of it! The last few days I've found myself inexplicably curled up in a fetal position more often than usual. Sobbing. Afeared of the snow.
I don't mind riding in some snow, but this snow is wet and has now been thawed and re-frozen at least a couple times. I am guessing it's dense and uninviting. Plus my shoulder hurts. And I'm awful scared, mister. But, as we all know, if yer scared you just have to grit your teeth, stop your blubbering, close yer eyes and ....GUN IT!!!! I'll let you know how that turns out.
Here are some of the fluffy pets we have at the old pet care shoppe.
Stop on in and cuddle! It'll make the fear go away. Hopefully 'til next year.
I was out running some errands a few days ago and happened to stop for a photo of this fairly new building.
TD Ameritrade. Not just for sponsoring ballparks anymore.
It looks like a progressive place to work since it's got a bicycle rack and some mini-wind turbines.
The design is kinda weird. Let me preface this next incident by stating that, as you may have noticed, bicyclists are typically not shy about voicing opinions. An abundance of anecdotal evidence that supports this statement can be found by perusing any bicycle-oriented online forum. Or just talking to a fellow bicycler about why they are riding, eating, or reading X,Y, or Z. A fellow bicyclist rolled up as I was deploying my light meter (i.e., pushing the button while in auto picture mode) and queried me thusly, "Takin' a picture for Eye Sore Monthly?"
"It is pretty crazy, huh?" I responded noncommittally.
"That's the biggest piece of shit building I've seen my whole life!" he colorfully opined.
"It reminds me of those square green plastic thingies..." I stated vaguely.
I wasn't sure what I meant, and it seemed to be on the hazy edges of my mind. I'm still not sure what I was trying to think of, but it's kind of like the transparent blue plastic used in the Battleship grids, except larger and greener.
Architectural digest reviews don't pack the punch of this guy's scathing witticisms!
I finished taking some more photos and rolled along the Big Papio Trail for a while. Ah, good ol' multi-use trails!
After leaving the trail I rolled through a construction zone that displayed an enviable concern for safety.
This concern for safety was on my mind when I noticed this.
I realized it was a covered pool. But I also thought it would also make a good trampoline. Kind of a win-win, eh? A pool cover that doubles as a trampoline? That way if/when you fall off the trampoline you're just at ground level. I have already sent this idea to Hasbro and they are pretty likely to hook a bro up with a sweet-ass crib. With a swimming pool/winter trampoline in the backyard. You could fill the pool with foamy noodles or razor blades, depending on if you are more passionate about risks or safety. Choose wisely. For your choice says a lot about you and your personality. Risky people are often interesting. Safe people are often good planners. Although I'm not a good planner, I do love safety. Have I mentioned I've got 2 tail lights, a reflector, along with some reflective tape and an Illuminite jacket or high-viz clothing deployed most of the time I'm out pedaling? Plus 1 or 2 headlights. Not afraid to risk obnoxiousness for the sake of safety!
After some reflecting upon safety I met up with a fellow bicyclist who was sporting a bulky messenger-type shoulder bag and sitting proudly astride a Univega mountainous bicycle! I had not seen one of those for quite some time. I looked into it and apparently Univega is possibly now owned by the Raleigh people? I remember Univegas as being a good bike for a reasonable price. High value. It sounds like they have kind of kept this approach. We chit-chatted about how nice the weather was. It was great!
Ah the joys of a nice day to ride in early March! We'll be taking 'em for granted in no time.
Here are some bicycle rides that I've been recently informed are taking place:
So what else is happening? Well, last night was the 16th annual Aquarianfest at Gator O'Malley's. No I wasn't there this year because I was hanging out with Baby Snot. It's great, but once he's 3 or so I'm definitely getting him into some sweet-ass baby tye-dye and haulin' ass down to this groovy shindig. How was it? Awesome I bet! Peace, love, understanding, and gettin' high! Dig it!
When I think of a bike shop, I usually think of his bike shop. The guy was gruff, impatient. Also honest and serious with plenty of opinions. Especially about bikes, because we're all opinionated about the things we love. I only saw him on a bicycle once. He was riding towards the shop on a cool day. He and his bike seemed to belong together. They were both tall, skinny, hunched yet aerodynamic. I'm guessing it was a Bianchi, because he seemed to be that sort of a classic bicyclist. He was a no bullshit kind of guy. I was sorry to hear that he passed away last year from cancer.
I bought a Bridgestone MB-5 from him in 1991. I bought another bike after that, but I think I still spend more time on the MB-5 than the other bike.
The shop is in an old building with an uneven wood floor. It's the kind of place that seems to exist in a place apart from the rest of the world. Timeless. Kind of like a temple. A place where you can reflect. Make decisions. The bikes are stacked in tightly. Plenty of older bikes. Not a whole lot of carbon. If you wanted to buy a bike from him you had to be able to explain why, because he wanted you to get something that would work for you. Something that would last. Well you helped me get the right bike. And you even gave the bike his name. The Old Bastard. Thanks John Molloy. Jan 7, 1947 – Jun 13, 2012.
My evening started out wonderfully with a nice dinner. Then Baby Snot started crying and Teen Snot proceeded to critique my feeding of Baby and Baby spit up down the back of my shirt. Know what I mean? Now I'm trying not to hit the liquor because I know that it's only Monday and things are just getting started. Been there? Yep.
But I do have a nice, slightly more spacious bike storage area to gloat about.
My old setup required removal of wheels and seats to fit in the 'rage, as shown here. And it didn't hold Teen Snot's Teen-cycle. So if you need a classic woody to hang some large to XL bikes on, let me know. Twenty big dollars and it's yours, if you can swing by and pick it up. It's a beefy upright woody that'll stand freely and proudly at attention, provided you've got room for this mini-monolith somewhere about your abode.
I have also learned that a man named Dan Welch is running for mayor here in the Home of the Om.
He wants to lower taxes. As do all of our candidates, except our current Mayor Suttle who stated that taxes are used for important government programs. While I do not necessarily want to pay a lot of taxes, I am kind of impressed by good ol' Sutty stating a wildly unpopular idea during an electiony time of year. It might just be crazy enough to work, dagnabbit! Or maybe he's just tired of being mayor. I hope not. Sutty also gets my appreciation for attending a bicycling movie and participating in National Bike Week awhile back.
If you are running for mayor, or maybe even just thinking about it, perhaps you would like to impress the potential voters by participating in a bicycling event? Here are some of the options:
Ride to the tailor to pick up my jacket with me, Saturday March 9. I think my trusty Illuminite jacket'll be back into zippering condition by then. Stop by for some pre-ride beverages and grab a solid wooden bike rack if you've got room for it in your limo. Maybe we can ride around a lake or something too!
They all sound so good it's tough to choose isn't it? Well then don't! Let's do 'em all! Just let me know if you wanna borrow a bike. I've got some moderately functional machines that we can spruce up for you mayoral types. Maybe a bullhorn attachment? PA? Howzabout a float on a trailer? Just let me know and we can work something out.
Meanwhile, I hear that we USians, aka dwellers in our porkpie hat country on the top of Mexico's well-oiled, luxurious coif, have become locked into our own world and viewpoints and are unwilling to consider other perspectives. Here's the opinion piece. Although I'm not really sure what his point is, as an intensely moderately active person with strenuously moderate viewpoints, I like any kind of opining that uses words like "moderate" and "purge." To attempt to translate Mr. Bruni's thoughts into the vernacular:
Hello bicycle enthusiasts. It was nice to see you all at the bike swap today. I enjoyed it and I'm pretty sure you did too. I only heard one guy complaining about anything related to the swap. And he was sitting at the bar across the street and bitching about the $3 cover (for the swap not the bar). Although this person was obviously not riff-raff, since he was inside a bar instead of on the corner with his drink in a paper bag, he may not have been quite enthusiastic enough about bikes to be the target audience of the swap. Plus the Bancroft Street Market ain't that big and it was jam-packed full of us bike addicts.
Since we USians measure our worth by our purchases, here's what I got.
I spoke with Mr. Ferguson of Ferguson Bike Shop on Leavenworth. He refurbed/overhauled this sweet-ass ride which I will try to win from him in a gambling game of some sort as soon as possible, since he said it's not for sale.
The Krate is a '68. Here's an awesome ad for the machine. Coincidentally available from a different vendor.
Although this mode of transport is just as bad ass now as it was in 1968, if I owned it I would probably give it to someone whose kids really annoy me. And let's face it, that's everyone's. That is because of the suicide shifter. It is clearly a disaster waiting to happen. Worse than the one-handed shift is the fact that the ball-end on the shifting lever apparently covers a very sharp, pointed end. So if you lose your ball-end you might end your balls' comfortable, intact existence.
Ouch.
I saw a Surly Long Haul Trucker that also has some serious haulin' shit capacity.
There were also many Bridgestones around. An RB-2, an MB-4 and one of those X0 spunkmeisters. Plus a wool jersey with a '94 BS catalogue/ad/magazine booklet. But none quite as rusty and weathered as the Old Bastard. HA!
I enjoyed the swap quite a bit. Nice to shoot the shit with fellow bicycle fanciers.
Here was a kind of cool 3-speed internal hub bike (a Via of some sort) that Bike Masters was trying to sell for a mere $200.
Seemed like a good deal, but I am saving my money to learn how to gamble so I can score the Krate. Here's a PSA for your perineum, sack, anus, et. al. safety, as appropriate.
Dad and I went to the theatre last eve for an evening of bicycle-themed cinema. The film was entitled Reveal the Path. We both enjoyed it. We mingled with bicycle-related shoppe and organization personnel. We drank New Belgium beer. It was brilliant!
We saw some bicycles. Fat bikes. Skinny bikes. The new Trek Domane 5.9 C is a carbon-fibre bicycle whose sleek suppleness should've immediately caused me to recall Fabian Cancellara, who, unsurprisingly, was for whom this svelte touring machine was designed. I think the Trek Store shoppe representative stated that the top tube is not connected to the seat tube and that this apparently helps make the ride extremely smooth and comfortable for miles and miles of riding pleasure.
I think you will enjoy Reveal the Path if you answer yes to both of these questions: a) Do you like travel shows? and b) Do you like bicycles? If you only answered yes to one of these questions then you should probably either ride your bicycle or watch Rick Steves' Europe. If you answered yes to a) and God YES! to b) then you are probably watching Rick Steves while pedaling furiously along on your trainer/indoor bikey thing! You get 'em, tiger!
This movie was brought to us by the good folks from Omaha Pedalers Bicycle Club. They are also bringing us the upcoming Bike Swap which I thought was this Saturday, but is apparently actually this Sunday (11-4 at the Bancroft Street Market. So I might actually get to go. Saturday I'll be hanging out with my young offspring and watching Rick Steves while making sonny's feet go in pedal-like circles. Should be a hoot, but don't bother stopping by for our usual Saturday in March game of bicycle hoops. Yep. The Snot is becoming less flowy these days.
Now as I was typing, RtP was a good film and also a good extended advertisement (I like to say advertizment con mucho accentes mi hermanos y hermanas) for Salsa bicycles. I think that Mike "Kid" Riemer (owner of Salsa cycles) produced the entire moving picture. Or it might have been produced by the same guy who did the Ride the Divide film (Mike Dion), which I viewed and pontificated about here. I would be pretty stoked if I could bicycle around in a bunch of cool places like these guys did. Scotland, France, Switzerland, Morocco, Nepal, Alaska. Probably a few others. They talked about how awesome it was to travel and ride bikes and how playing leads to evolutionary advancement of societies. I like it! And I am playing with myself right now! Purely for evolutionary reasons, of course.
As far as traveling in Nepal or Morocco goes, I am not convinced that pedaling/lugging your bicycle around on various roads and trails is necessarily the best way to experience your destination and meet the locals. It is a good way to inflict your sporty ways upon unsuspecting folks and provide some good free entertainment to the people you zip by on your horse of highness. Bicycle touring seems a little better suited to more bicycley places. Places like the Ukraine and Scandinavia. Probably Brazil. Maybe Belfast too. I hear Van Morrison is playing a show there on St. Paddy's Day. Although by now I'm sure you realize I have no clue about bicycle touring (my only experience in that respect being bicycling across Iowa and then, a year or 2 later, Nebraska) I'm pretty sure that Iceland would be great too. I am sure that I would run into someone from an avant garde pop group. Who knows I might even meet up with the Bjork, the next Bjork or someone from Of Men and Monsters! That would be so cool! I would be sure to have my mandolin along to accompany them on a great jam of my favorite song and Iceland's national song - "Motorcrash."
I'm not really even sure that riding in RAGBRAI and BRAN even counts as bicycle touring. I think it's more like bike-mobbing your fellow USians (Mexicos bland sour cream topping) in their natural habitats. Which is pretty great. Dad said he's doing BRAN again. I think I'm going to go hiking instead. Maybe I'll carry my bike along, too though. It makes for some pretty sweet videos! Let's bhike somewhere cool bhikeheads!
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