September 22, 2017
Happy fall!
As you have assuredly learned from your friendly neighborhood druid, the balance tips. The leaves fall. Here are the three photos I took to represent the autumnal equinox.
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| A runner and a brick manor. |
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| The cat sits/at the edge of light and shadow/took over what was once/Groundhog Holler. |
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| I think maybe one of these kid lived there and were locked out? |
Although they are all my favorite, you are welcome to decide which one is the true meaning of the end of summer and the beginning of fall. After you have thoughtfully considered, please feel free to tell me which one is best and why. Or, if you're that kind of person, you could just tell me which one is suckiest and why. Oh, you couldn’t decide, eh? How droll, my good lady/boy/mannish friend. Droll indeed.
Here now. Let me pontificate upon the greatness of my week. As I quickly and ruthlessly smacked down my flu virus, I was again astride my glorious steed. I even made it out to LaCasa Pizzeria (West) to enjoy a bicycle ride with my friend Bob and then some beers and pizza.
It was very nice and it was pretty fun to be back on ye olde Keystone Trail after many fortnights. We rode south and eventually reached Dr. David Banner’s brother’s park
where there were kids playing both north and south American futbol. Separately. When will we play together, mis amigos? You with your round ball. You with your fusilinid-shaped ball. Me with my donut-shaped ball also known as a tyre. Sigh…. Hey, who’s ball is leaking!?
Although we were the only noticeable pizza riders, I think this is bound to catch on and become a medium deal. Oh, alright, I tried to get enthusiastic. Selling just ain’t my forte. I loved the pizza! I have lived here most of my life and this was the first time I recall going to LaCasa. Very good pizza and the people were nice. Bob and I sat outside with Peppi and the airplane.
It really was great. Maybe we’ll get out there for another square slice of glory in the near future.
October 7, 2017
As the bike crank turns, these are the days of our lives. Here is some drama that involves my drive train. What is wrong in this photo?
- The chain doesn’t really mesh with the chain ring anymore.
- Something else.
If you chose a, you may be right. But if you chose b, you may be crazy. But it just may be a new chain ring I’m looking for! Oh and also a new chain and a new sprocket and I’m also going to put a new chain tensioner on the Bastard. The first few chain links aren't settling onto the ol' chain ring they way the used ta do, sigh... It makes for some noisy pedaling and just don't feel right (sob!).
So there’s something else I should be doing instead of typing to you about my hopes, fears, and dreams. Well at least I ordered my parts. Niagara cycling, if anyone needs a 38-T 130 mm chainring, which seem less common than they used to be.
It’s been a bit soggy around here lately. Here is a poor fellow that just wanted to get away from the sogginess. Instead he was crushed and ignominiously transported with me to my place of work at the hookah bar and grill.
In more serious news, at least two pedestrians have recently been struck and killed by motorists here in Omaha within the past month or so. Also a bicyclist was killed when he was hit from behind in Lincoln. These are reasons it might behoove me and/or other bicyclers/pedestrians to consider relocating to a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly area such as Amsterdam or, possibly, Portland, OR or ME. Unfortunately I have few no skills that are marketable outside my locality. I also have a severe lack of ambition when it comes to relocating. I would, however, like to encourage motorists to pay close attention to their surroundings. One way to do this would be to provide more serious penalties for these types of offenses. They need to be kept out of the driver’s seat and off the streets. Preferably forever. If that is not feasible, at least until self-driving vehicles are effective and reasonably priced.
Here was a sad story about a bicyclist who was struck by a vehicle from behind and then sued. She started a website to offer advice and help to other bicyclists who find themselves in similar situations, or to help them prepare for that unfortunate possibility.
In less depressing news, my wrists have sprung back into pretty good shape after their recent hardships, as noted in excruciating detail here. Yes, I got back on the Chariot of Yellow Glory, got aero, and rolled speedily about my business on one of the few recent unsoggy days. I also noticed that there is much less strain on my wrists if I pull on my bars when doing some standing climbing, rather than pushing (as is my wont when propelling the Bastard).
So there you have it - a social ride, a mechanical observation (of sorts), an appeal to our elected officials and appointed lawmakers and judges and the like, and a tip on technique. I know all of you bicyclers are eating this stuff up like a Clif bar. Don’t worry. There’s more where that came from. Just let me reach into my sweaty jersey pocket, right next to that dead worm…
Yours truly,
BSO
