Bakfiets. Family. Picnic blanket. Kite. Perfect summer day.
The Perfect Engine
via Carectomy
So true. Ignore the part about needing gear, and yes, this is an advertisement – but it captures many of my feelings about the potential of the human body.
Cycling in Friendly Cities
via CareFreeUSA
Different Bikes for Different Folks
Good friend J was in town – he’s been touring the north east on his BMW GS. I plotted out some great dirt roads for him to explore – and on his way south he took in App Gap and lovely Rt. 100.
We enjoyed the usual Burlington and Church Street fare, including a short bike ride to the Winooski bridge. We spent the evening catching up after dinner, enjoyed a few local brews, and took the long walk home from downtown along the lakefront bike path as the sun was going down over the Adirondacks. J shot the portrait of Ava and I on the bridge – he borrowed my mountain bike that we have set up for guests. The last guest was 5’2″, J is 6’5″ or so… the saddle had to come way way up.
Boulder, CO
Burlington, VT on steroids? Lots of bikes, bike lanes and infrastructure. Plenty of good street performers. Unique shops, good food aplenty. Downtown is a stark contrast to the everywhere development surrounding our hotel just 10 miles south.
Gandalf the Grey
Grandpa Woodstock, in Boulder, CO. He is quite the character, and according to the mighty Google he travels about the country on foot, bicycle, and moped living in the woods and off the kindness of strangers. We chatted for a bit and he tooted his horn at everyone that passed, proclaiming his message of peace and love.
Everywhere, USA
We spent a few days ‘out west’ – Jen had client meetings and Ava and I got to play. We were staying in an exurb of Denver – and from the little exploring I did it seemed like this type of development stretched from the burbs of Denver nearly all the way to Boulder.
The shock of the new was something I didn’t anticipate. I guess I’ve grown accustomed to the history of the northeast. Everywhere we went on the main stretch of road was littered with retail and corporate developments. Housing was always off to the side – and the ‘town center’ was a retail conglomeration of chain land surrounded by acres of parking – I could have been anywhere. Local was nowhere to be found.
We were staying near the ‘Promenade’ – an outdoor mall anchored by a multiplex cinema – complete with canned music and canned history.
At the crossroads of the development was an inlaid compass – complete with distances that only reminded me that I was nowhere and everywhere – wishing I was in Rome, or NYC – both places that I’ve enojoyed, both places with history, with unique energy and with their own local sense of place.
Sunday Rain Ride
After a hectic week with the whole family coming down with a GI virus I managed to get out on the bike. We skipped the Boilermaker as we have all been under the weather – so any exercise was welcome – and I just wanted to spin the legs.
John and I managed ~34 miles today. I was on the Surly fixed gear and John got the A. Homer Hilson dirty. We had a great but windy start heading south to Charlotte fighting the wind – hoping it would stay its course through the day so we would have a tailwind on the return trip. We had drizzle and wind for a bit – then a torrential wind driven downpour soaked us to the bone as we neared the ferry landing. The wind and the rain were coming so hard that it hurt when it hit my face – we ducked onto a side road under some trees and slowed the pace for a bit – and decided to make it an easier day. We topped up our bottles and had a snack at the Old Brick Store in Charlotte – then added rain gear to keep warm for the return journey. I regretted leaving the rain cape at home – as I took the plastic jacket to try again to like it…
We explored a bit as we neared the lake front bike path – looking for an elusive shortcut through the woods and a condo development. We didn’t find the path – but we did find what looked like a stolen and abandoned mountain bike. We dropped it off at Burton’s headquarters and talked to some employees – they think the bike might belong to one of their fellow employees.
Most of the photo’s I’ve added lately have been taken with my Palm Centro. It’s not the greatest camera in the world – but I don’t have to carry an extra piece of digital equipment. I do like some of the effects I get when shooting a closeup while moving…
Moth
Saturday
This weekend is a sales tax free (on items under $2k) economy jump start weekend here in Vermont. Old Spokes was packed when I arrived – I needed a few odds and ends to wrap up some maintenance. The racks were full – and a steady stream of folks were test riding and leaving with shiny new and refurbished bicycles.
I ran into John – he was out on the A. Homer Hilson en route from the farmer’s market home via the bike shop to pick up a Nexus 8 speed hub for his sweetie’s ride.
I made a quick stop in town at the farmer’s market – lots and lots of bikes out today. Juggler’s too. Picked up some just picked zucchini and fresh bread. Then made a stop at the local giganto mart for a few items. I’m enjoying the new Camper Long Flap I added to my bag collection – I could have easily fit a few days worth of groceries, rain gear, etc. etc. in the bag. I was carrying a U-lock, pump, tools, gloves, hat, fresh bread, 6 zucchini, peppers, onion, and a bottle of household cleaner.
The Camper Long Flap looks to be the perfect size for light touring and long brevets. I’m going to put it to use on the OneWay300k. I also have plans for several S24O to enjoy the fall colors – I want to explore some terrain in the ADKs as well as a quick ride to the Underhill side of the Mt. Mansfield area. I think the bag will easily hold sleeping and cooking gear – and I can strap the Hennessy Hammock to the outside.