Half the Road!

February 28, 2017

I made it out to the theatre tonight last week to view a film entitled Half the Road.  It was at AksarbenCinema.  I don’t make it out much, so I was amazed to see all the sports bars present in the Aksarben Village area these days.  Here is a horrible photo of a sports bar's advertising bike at the cinema.

http://www.dudleysomaha.com

  There was also an e-bike rental outfit with a promotional booth out in the lobby, 

http://quikbyke.com

along with the usual group which included:

Tour for Hope (Bike Ride to Prevent Suicide) - May 21

Wear Yellow Ride - May 13

Bike Rack

Omaha Pedalers

As for the film, it was great to hear about some inspired women professional bicyclists.  Unfortunately they don’t get the respect or the money they deserve.  The film informs us that women bicyclists typically don’t dope and they have to work full-time regular jobs to support their bicycling careers.  Also there are fewer UCI qualifying events for them to participate in in order to get the points they need to qualify for the Olympics. 

Mostly what this film is about is giving girls and women more representation in the male-dominated professional bicycling world.  Although there are many women bicyclists, the professional bicyclists that I am familiar with are all men and almost all of them are likely dopers.  This film introduced me to a number of professional women bicyclists who I am interested in learning more about.  Here are a few of those portrayed in the film:

1. Emma Pooley (she has a teapot collection - she buys one with the prize money when she wins races)
2. Marianne Vos (probably my favorite, she seems shy and unassuming but is clearly a badass bicyclist) 
3. Kathryn Bertine (also directed the film and Skyped with the audience after the showing!)
4. Chrissy Wellington (not specifically a professional bicyclist)

Of these, CW was the only one I previously knew anything about due to my casual fling with triathleting. 

The film was enjoyable, but occasionally a bit repetitive – professional women bicyclists are not treated with even the meager amounts of respect lavished upon professional male bicyclists.  Let’s talk about that some more.  I would have been a bit more interested in hearing more about how these women became bicyclists and show them bicycling about their homelands, etc.   The film did have a great sense of humor and never really got bogged down.   It was fascinating to see all the travelling that these women had to do just to qualify for the Olympics.   Kathryn went to Syria and then didn’t even get credit for it due to some weaselly UCI technicality!  I don’t mind travelling, but I felt like I got some contact jet lag just from viewing this film.

Then, after the film, Kathryn Skyped with Bob Mancuso (of Omaha Pedaler's) and the audience got the chance to ask her questions!  It was good to hear about her latest ventures and her life in Tucson, AZ.  She offers a free place for women bicyclists to stay if they decide they could use some quality time in the mountain/deserts around and about Tucson.

That’s one nice thing about being a non-professional bicycler.  We don’t have to travel by means other than bicycling all that much!  But then again, no one makes movies about bicycle commuters, right!?  Wrong!  Here is one!  And even another!?  Okay, so they both also involve Old Man 

Winter to make it a bit more baffling/obtuse.  Here's a geeky-looking documentary that contrasts bicycles and motorcars.  

Well, bicycling in Nebraska seems to be headed in the right direction.  Here are a couple exciting upcoming events:

Omaha Bike Swap Meet - March 12

Nebraska Bike/Walk Summit - March 23-24, Lincoln

And a non-bicycle-related event: 

Yes, Nebraska equestrians will be loving it.  Maybe they'll have bike trials world cup here next!?

It could happen!  In the meantime, let's all get our bikes rolling!  Safely!  Music video!  

White leg fever

February 17, 2017

Hello (dis)respected citizen.  How are you feeling about all of this?  Oh?  Hmmm.  I hadn’t really thought about it that way, but I can understand how you would feel that way.  Good to know.  Yes.

Well I have recently felt very encouraged about bicycling in my home of Om-aha!  Here are two reasons I am so exultant:

And here is a third:

 

There is a bicycler in this image!  Is it you?!

Yes, it appears that some anonymous benefactor(s), possible employed by the city governance, has made my bicycling easier by removing snow and/or soil from some of my favorite multi-use trails! 

“Caloo-callay! “(as some would say) I chortled.

Oh, and also

“Thank you.”

Say whatever you like about climate change, it is increasing the opportunities for many of us fair-weather-loving wheelmen and women to bicycle here in the previously temperate zone.  I know it's a bummer in many ways, but why be an Eeyore!?!  Maybe if you’d do more bicycling and less worrying you would feel better!

Why it was just today that I saw more bicyclers out and about than I have this entire cock-burning year!  5! 

1. 1.     Fellow commuter on a geared road bicycle at Chatty Corner where we discussed the weather (naturally).  I said that yes it would be as warm or warmer than they said, and I was right!
2. 2.     A guy on a mountainous-style bicycle with a floodlight mounted to one of his fork tines/blades. 
3. 3.     and 4.   Enthusiastic and gregarious young men with skateboards strapped to their backs on a couple of mtbs.  The first one waved and said hi!  Camaraderie is keen!
4. 5.  A woman in bright colors out for what I presume was a recreational foray onto some of our fairly good city’s multi-use paths (can you spot her in [crappy] photo # 3?)

These 5 bicyclers obviously are representative of the entire population of bicyclists in the city, so please use this information to plan our future accordingly.  2/5ths of all cyclists also prefer their 4-wheeled vehicles to be self-powered!

It was so warm out that I've been able to increase my visibility by wearing shorts that allow my reflective skin to keep me safe.  

I hear that Omaha Pedalers is preparing to sponsor a bicycle-related film event.  And also that the Wear Yellow kickoff party will occur soon. 

The film is entitled Half the Road and is about (professional) women bicyclers and takes place at Aksarben Cinema on February 22.  The Wear Yellow Kickoff party is February 23 at Crave at Midtown Crossing.  So next week could be the best fire cocking week yet!

Well I hope you have a great weekend!  Why not start it off by mowing your lawn, like this gentleman!?  

Yes this was today!

Here is a musical tribute to reflective skin.  

Let’s ride!

Cocked and primed for the roll

January 21, 2017

Good morning.  It is now almost the year of the fire rooster, or, the fire cock, as I like to say.  Here is a cocky young wheelman I encountered at Chatty Corner this Thursday (or was it Friday?) morn. 

It is thrilling to me to behold fellow commuters and also interesting to see what wardrobe/set-up choices they have made.  I am fond of the "colorful pedaling clown" look, as this compatriot is portraying.  This is also one reason that I've not switched to a bicycle with anything bigger than a 66-cm (26-inch) diameter wheel. 

https://sites.google.com/site/arkansasmountainbiketrails/mini-clown-bicycles-mini-clown

Also, speaking of bicycle fashion, here are some new pants that I recently sent away for.

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5040-120/Mica-Pants

As I many have raved about the glorious Rad pants in the past, these seem to be somewhat similar.  I'll let you know more than you want to know about these pants in the future.  Thanks MEC.

As we prepare ourselves for some Chinese New Year celebrating, let’s remember to have a nice cup of sake (or xake, as we USians call the Chinese/ancestral form of this rice liquor [actually mijiu, so sorry for offending]) but not to start any fires you are not prepared to toast to, followed by prompt dousing.

Also, (as you likely did not notice anymore than we USsans noticed when your country's new leader was elected/forcibly seized power) we USsans have a new president.  Here he is astride grabbing holding gently cradling a cockhorse bicycle.

 

http://richcruse.blogspot.com/2009/09/why-is-donald-trump-holding-huffy.html

Also I have seem some recent notices that the endearing Grand Life Gravel Gran Fondo of the eastern Iowegian loess hills is slated to be held yet again.  I am not sure about participating in this one, but it has been quite enjoyable for me in the past. 

The National Bike Challenge is a feel goody two shoesy event that I have enjoyed participating in for the past few years.  But now it needs a sponsor.  Well, perhaps Donald Trump will reach out a helping hand towards bicycling yet again.  Pleeeaaase?! as Snot Jr. would say.

I found a dollar bill whilst bicycling home yesterday.  It was a bit soggy, but dried out nicely.  I am guessing someone saved it for a rainy day, but then dropped it whilst fishing in their pocket for a mini-bottle/nip of Rumple-Minze to celebrate/mourn the inauguration of DT or perhaps just to relieve the DTs.

Well, I’m sorry there’s not a lot more going on right now, that I know of.  So I’ll spare you any more blathering.  Godspeed and keep the (year of the) fire cock safe and happy!

-BS

Baller New Year 2 U!

December 30, 2016

As the impending year looms before us like a vanfull of possibilities, let us all count our blessings and reflect on/try to forget this year’s events.

Here are some of my memorable experiences as of late:

1. 1.     A couple weeks back we had some snow for about 2 hours!

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. 2.     People celebrated Christmas or Chanukkah or other.  Here is some evidence.  

1. The Southern Comfort; however, seemed a bit unnecessary because the weather has been very mild here lately.

1. 3.     Today the Husker footballers proved that they could still entertain me.  They entertained me by keeping most people off the streets whilst I went out for some bicycling in this mild winter weather.

ALERT:  Testicle talk hanging below!

Speaking of ballers, I got some new boxer briefs for Christmas.  One pair was great.  The other pair attempted to roast my nuts.  If you are like me, (and AC/DC) you love to communicate to others about your balls.  

Society, however, being what it is, prefers that we do so only in certain circumscribed areas such as during sex, while making sex videos, or at your urologist’s.  If you are a woman, you may also want to tell others a lot about your clitoris and/or labia.  You are free to do so at your leisure and/or convenience, preferably whilst breastfeeding in public.  That is fine with me and (I am sure) also fine with everyone else.  And if not, fuck ‘em.  Now that we have gotten those parts out in the open, let’s take a look (not literally, I blushed prudishly) at some important things about balls.  

1.     Balls should stay cool.  My balls were recently very uncool due to their newfound enclosure – a pair of boxer briefs made by a company called Pair of Thieves.  Here is what they were made of.  

Those fit well, but seem much warmer than cotton or some of the other synthetic blends I've experienced (e.g., polyester and lycra).  If you want to keep your ballerinos warm whilst wearing shorts and excelling at the luge, these would be great.  While performing sedentary clerical work; however, they were alarmingly toasty. 

2.     Balls should not bounce on your saddle.  To that end, I recently found some Wickers briefs that give the boys the support I felt they needed whilst I engage in my carefree bicycling habits.  Unfortunately, Wickers, like many made in the U.S. companies, have recently closed.  I don't think those Chinese synthetic blends are quite as breathable.  Or maybe I'm just being a nationalistic asshole and my new boxer briefs will be cooly-comfy after a washing...  I'll get back to you on this, whether you want me to or not! 

3.     A penis may retreat, like a turtle towards its heart, towards the balls when affected by cold.  Do not be alarmed.  Also do not attempt to urinate until the penis has re-emerged, like a blossoming daffodil bloom reaching for the sun.

Alright, number 3 might have been a bit of a stretch upwards and away from the balls, but the penis is also quite high on my list of things I like to, but feel constrained, about sharing.  I guess ball talk should typically come in sets of 2.

My balls feel much cooler after sharing.

What else is happening?  Let’s have a look-see…  

Here is a cartoon advertising a kid's bike that is not at all kid-oriented.  That is because kids want to buy a bike with graphics that are fun.  That is why Snot Jr. recently chose a bike with a cartoon car on it.  Great.

I guess that's all I've got for now.  Keep 'em cool and bike onwards towards a glorious 2017!

Cool regards,

BS