>Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#241)…and why my world is small.

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Pots, pans, over-sized wire whisks, bowls, plastic buckets, and other small pieces of cooking equipment. (The above photo is one of a trilogy where I catered a party and carried most of the equipment to-and-fro on my bike. To see other photos click here and here.)

I could answer the question–statement, I suppose–of why my world is so small in very brief statement: because I like it that way, or more specifically, because I choose it to be. Now this may at first seem a negative thing, as in small minded, but it’s not….it’s on the contrary. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

This post, and on a slightly larger scale, this blog as a whole is about getting small, getting simple…trying to live simply in the city. And riding bikes, for me, is a large part of this. The post you are currently reading is, on a personal level, an abridged attempt to explain how it is rather easy to go nearly car-free. And if I begin to sound preachy I apologize, because that is not what I intend with this blog. How you choose to live or transport is your own business. But again I’m jumping ahead; I’ll start over.

As I’ve stated a few times recently, when I started this blog it was to be a sort of journal…chronicling my journey further into simplifying my life. In fact, one of the original names for this blog was going to be My Two Mile Island, taken from the Cliff Bar Two Mile Challenge (you can type in your address and it will show you a map with a two mile radius of your house, suggesting you either walk or ride a bike within those two miles).  My very first blog post, nearly three years ago, was based on this premise (click here to read it).

I have always enjoyed living in the city where everything is close,and have always enjoyed walking and biking, but in recent years I have made a conscious effort to have most everything I need within walking or biking distance (at least all my day-to-day essentials…I still do own a vehicle). This then, is not so much about using a bike as recreation or on the weekends for fun…it is a lifestyle. Bikes, in fact, are more important to me as transportation than my small pickup truck. 

Now I realize that not everyone is able to do this in the modern sprawl in which we live, and for me it is an on-going process…choices and decisions come into play…big decisions. A few years ago, for example, when I was seeking new employment I actually turned jobs down that were not within realistic biking, walking, or public transportation range. And I realize that living in an urban environment makes this much easier; I am fully aware that this would be nearly impossible living in the suburbs or a rural setting.

Everything I need on a daily basis is within two miles from where I live; Indeed getting places in the city is often quicker on a bike than in a car. Here’s my essentials (distances are approximate and they are in no particular order):

My place of employment: .5 mile
The church of which I’m a member: 1.5 miles
The local food co-op: 2 miles
Bike shop: .5 miles
Where I buy wine: .25 miles
My son’s mother’s house: 1 mile
Health club: 1 mile
Book store: .25 mile and 2 miles

There’s also a slew of big box stores and strip malls a mere 4 or 5 miles away.

Buffalo–the city in which I live–is a small city, and I am lucky enough to live in the Allentown neighborhood of Buffalo, which in my eyes is a small Bohemian town within the city. According to walkscore.com it has a 95% walk-ability score (type in your address and it will give you a score).

Anyhow, enough with the probability babble…here’s an example of how easy it is to be car-free for a day:

I rode the Mundo to work yesterday morning because I was working a split-shift and thought I’d accomplish things on my break. After the first portion of the shift I rode to the health club for a brief steam and swim, then I rode home to drop off my bag and retrieve additional bungee cords. Then I rode to my church (where I catered a benefit party this past weekend) and loaded the above items on the bike. From there I rode to the video store to drop of an overdue video, and then home again for a brief respite and to feed my dogs and let them into the back yard. Then back to work to unload the bike. After working the second shift I rode home, stopping on the way to pick up a bottle of wine.

Again, I don’t mean to sound preachy, but I truly believe that bicycles matter, that they can make a difference. To me, when I do errands or carry stuff on one of my bikes I feel a sense of accomplishment…that I did this without using my gas-powered vehicle. But the best part is even more significant, because riding a bike, being out in the fresh air, is way more fun to me than sitting on a car-couch pressing a gas pedal. And that, I think, is what really counts.

I’ll get off my little soapbox now.

Employee Meal 11.16.10

This is basically a variation on the classic recipe for Arroz con Carne de Puerco (Rice with Pork)…I decided to make it for an employee meal after I came upon some pork belly in the freezer that was left over from a party this past summer (and just a hint to the cook if you make this dish…while pork belly is delicious it is also very fatty, for that reason you cook it slowly at first to render much of the fat).

I seasoned the dish with turmeric, smoked paprika, and homemade chili powder. I ate it with a sweet orange, homemade pickled turnip and beets, and a green salad. It was delicious (leftovers for tomorrow).

>Employee Meal 11.16.10

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This is basically a variation on the classic recipe for Arroz con Carne de Puerco (Rice with Pork)…I decided to make it for an employee meal after I came upon some pork belly in the freezer that was left over from a party this past summer (and just a hint to the cook if you make this dish…while pork belly is delicious it is also very fatty, for that reason you cook it slowly at first to render much of the fat).

I seasoned the dish with turmeric, smoked paprika, and homemade chili powder. I ate it with a sweet orange, homemade pickled turnip and beets, and a green salad. It was delicious (leftovers for tomorrow).

Beautiful Day

This morning I left work for about 45 minutes to retrieve a few items on my bike (click here to see them loaded on the bike). I could only carry about 1/2 or 3/4 of the items, not because of their weight but because of their awkwardness. And yes I could have carried them in my vehicle…and ironically my “vehicle” that I often mention in these posts is a small 11-year-old pickup truck. But if I drove my truck I would not have experienced this beautiful morning. The air was crisp (my fingers were a tad cold…should have worn gloves), the sky was a brilliant blue and a perfect backdrop to the yellow-leaved trees. With the view ahead of me combined with the smell of wood smoke in the air and the sound of leaves under my tires it reminded me of the autumns of my youth. I had my camera so I snapped a quick photo (Norwood Avenue for any Buffalonians reading this).

I’ve been trying to live in the moment lately, to be present at the present time (but being mostly unsuccessful at it), and after putting my camera away and starting to pedal again I was present; I was fully aware of all that was around me and that I was part of it. And as I rode, with the warm autumn sun on my face and a chilly wind to my back, there was nowhere else I wanted to be but there.

It was a beautiful day…at least for those few moments.

>Beautiful Day

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This morning I left work for about 45 minutes to retrieve a few items on my bike (click here to see them loaded on the bike). I could only carry about 1/2 or 3/4 of the items, not because of their weight but because of their awkwardness. And yes I could have carried them in my vehicle…and ironically my “vehicle” that I often mention in these posts is a small 11-year-old pickup truck. But if I drove my truck I would not have experienced this beautiful morning. The air was crisp (my fingers were a tad cold…should have worn gloves), the sky was a brilliant blue and a perfect backdrop to the yellow-leaved trees. With the view ahead of me combined with the smell of wood smoke in the air and the sound of leaves under my tires it reminded me of the autumns of my youth. I had my camera so I snapped a quick photo (Norwood Avenue for any Buffalonians reading this).

I’ve been trying to live in the moment lately, to be present at the present time (but being mostly unsuccessful at it), and after putting my camera away and starting to pedal again I was present; I was fully aware of all that was around me and that I was part of it. And as I rode, with the warm autumn sun on my face and a chilly wind to my back, there was nowhere else I wanted to be but there.

It was a beautiful day…at least for those few moments.

Sour Cabbage

This post is a follow-up to one I wrote a couple weeks ago (click here to read the original). If you’re a reader of this blog you already know that I have a fascination with fermented foods (among other things), and sauerkraut is not only the most obvious of these but probably the most common. I’ve made sauerkraut many times before but what is unusual about this particular batch is that it was made with kraut that I grew myself…it went from the ground to the fermenting bucket within 30 minutes. Anyhow, and to cut-to-the chase…the current batch of sauerkraut (with hot peppers) is ready and geeze ‘o man is it delicious.
When eaten raw fermented foods are akin to a wonder drug…they are the best natural pro-biotic on the market. Now some (many) may shriek at the thought of eating raw sauerkraut, but I’m not talking about supermarket-bought canned or jarred cabbage…this is the real deal; we’re talking about two different things. Fresh sauerkraut is so easy to make at home but you could also buy it at a food co-op or health food store (at exorbitant prices). Simply said, when you eat raw fermented foods you are eating live foods…it has an efflorescence on the tongue and–when made correctly–a flavor that will keep you coming back for more.
The house in which I live was built, to the best that I can figure, during or before the American Civil War. According to the deed to the house the first few owners had German surnames. During this time there was of course no central heat, electricity, refrigeration, or plumbing. The house is also built on a teeny basement that is now mostly occupied by a steam boiler and octopus-like pipes; it’s original purpose, I’m sure, was a root cellar. It would probably be a fair bet to think that during those times there often bubble crocks of kraut in the basement, which of course is how they would preserve vegetables back then.
I thought of this as I ate some of the kraut with my dinner tonight, and I knew the original owners of this house would approve.
To read more about fermented foods and their health benefits, or for additional recipes, click here.
German-Style Sauerkraut
1 small head of cabbage
2 tablespoons kosher salt

Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage and cut the head in half and then quarters. Cut out the core and discard it. Slice the cabbage as thin as you are able and put it in a large bowl. Sprinkle with two or three tablespoons salt and mix. Taste the cabbage; it should taste salty but not overly so. Transfer the cabbage to a container that is wide enough to fit a few small plates. Press the cabbage down with your hands and weight it with plates. Cover the container and leave at room temperature. After a day the cabbage should have released enough of its own liquid that it is submerged, if not, add enough salted water to cover the cabbage. After 2 or 3 days small bubbles will appear, after about a week or so it will begin to smell and taste distinctively sour. Depending on the temperature of your kitchen the cabbage will take between one and three weeks to sour completely. Taste it as often as you like and when the flavor is to your liking transfer the container to the refrigerator to slow its fermentation.

>Sour Cabbage

>

This post is a follow-up to one I wrote a couple weeks ago (click here to read the original). If you’re a reader of this blog you already know that I have a fascination with fermented foods (among other things), and sauerkraut is not only the most obvious of these but probably the most common. I’ve made sauerkraut many times before but what is unusual about this particular batch is that it was made with kraut that I grew myself…it went from the ground to the fermenting bucket within 30 minutes. Anyhow, and to cut-to-the chase…the current batch of sauerkraut (with hot peppers) is ready and geeze ‘o man is it delicious.
When eaten raw fermented foods are akin to a wonder drug…they are the best natural pro-biotic on the market. Now some (many) may shriek at the thought of eating raw sauerkraut, but I’m not talking about supermarket-bought canned or jarred cabbage…this is the real deal; we’re talking about two different things. Fresh sauerkraut is so easy to make at home but you could also buy it at a food co-op or health food store (at exorbitant prices). Simply said, when you eat raw fermented foods you are eating live foods…it has an efflorescence on the tongue and–when made correctly–a flavor that will keep you coming back for more.
The house in which I live was built, to the best that I can figure, during or before the American Civil War. According to the deed to the house the first few owners had German surnames. During this time there was of course no central heat, electricity, refrigeration, or plumbing. The house is also built on a teeny basement that is now mostly occupied by a steam boiler and octopus-like pipes; it’s original purpose, I’m sure, was a root cellar. It would probably be a fair bet to think that during those times there often bubble crocks of kraut in the basement, which of course is how they would preserve vegetables back then.
I thought of this as I ate some of the kraut with my dinner tonight, and I knew the original owners of this house would approve.
To read more about fermented foods and their health benefits, or for additional recipes, click here.
German-Style Sauerkraut
1 small head of cabbage
2 tablespoons kosher salt

Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage and cut the head in half and then quarters. Cut out the core and discard it. Slice the cabbage as thin as you are able and put it in a large bowl. Sprinkle with two or three tablespoons salt and mix. Taste the cabbage; it should taste salty but not overly so. Transfer the cabbage to a container that is wide enough to fit a few small plates. Press the cabbage down with your hands and weight it with plates. Cover the container and leave at room temperature. After a day the cabbage should have released enough of its own liquid that it is submerged, if not, add enough salted water to cover the cabbage. After 2 or 3 days small bubbles will appear, after about a week or so it will begin to smell and taste distinctively sour. Depending on the temperature of your kitchen the cabbage will take between one and three weeks to sour completely. Taste it as often as you like and when the flavor is to your liking transfer the container to the refrigerator to slow its fermentation.

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#239)

Pots, pans, skillets, lids, plastic bus pans, wire racks, etc…a partial load from a return trip from a party I helped cater this past weekend; I’ll pick up the remainder tomorrow. To see the original trip on the way there click here.

Built To Last

This is a short film (under 3 minutes) about building sustainable cities. The first minute or so seems a little bleak…but the second half is inspiring. This is actually something I’ve been attempting to do from a personal level for the past decade or so, not rebuilding a city, of course, but constructing my life so things are within reach…literally and metaphorically. I’ve not been entirely successful…still use my car occasionally, as I did today. And I still get stressed over things (real and imagined, but mostly self-imposed). For the most part I find that when I simplify my life (which is a continual and on-going process) it contributes to the planet but the real benefit is a personal one–a selfish one, I suppose–because as I try to live simply, which includes bicycling and walking as often as I can, I have a sense of peace…and this is something I could not purchase at the mall.

>Built To Last

>This is a short film (under 3 minutes) about building sustainable cities. The first minute or so seems a little bleak…but the second half is inspiring. This is actually something I’ve been attempting to do from a personal level for the past decade or so, not rebuilding a city, of course, but constructing my life so things are within reach…literally and metaphorically. I’ve not been entirely successful…still use my car occasionally, as I did today. And I still get stressed over things (real and imagined, but mostly self-imposed). For the most part I find that when I simplify my life (which is a continual and on-going process) it contributes to the planet but the real benefit is a personal one–a selfish one, I suppose–because as I try to live simply, which includes bicycling and walking as often as I can, I have a sense of peace…and this is something I could not purchase at the mall.

Costs of Car Ownership

Ok, fist you’re probably wondering why I am writing about cars on a blog like this. Well as I’ve said in the past I am not car-free, just car-lite…sometimes lighter than others. I am also not a person that is against you having a car…that’s you’re business not mine. I just find that riding bicycles makes more sense to me most of the time, and on many levels…when I’m on a bike I usually feel free; when I’m in my car I often feel bored or agitated by traffic. And while this blog is meant to promote bicycles and a general simpler way of living in the city (mostly these posts are reminders for myself), it is definitly not attempting to be an anti-car blog…again, driving a car is your business. But if you are reading this blog–or more specifically, if you are a regular reader of this blog–something tells me you agree with this at least to a certain level.

If I had to sum it up in a more specific definition I would say that this blog is more about bicycles being accepted by motorists and not thought of as mere toys. But as is often the case, I’m getting off topic. Here’s the real meaning f this post.

In the past month I have driven my vehicle maybe 4 or 5 times; this is relatively easy to do when the weather is nice. I put $20 worth of gas in it something like 3 weeks ago. Mostly I move it from one side of the street to the other twice a week…and this is the real reason of this post.

Like many city streets, the one on which I live was built before the advent of the auto…it’s narrow and not many of the houses have driveways; there are more cars on the street than there are spaces. If you arrive home after 5pm you will most likely not get a parking space. And twice a week–Monday and Thursday at 6pm–we are required to move our cars from one side of the street to the other. If you don’t move your vehicle within about 30 minutes of the allotted time it is usually ticketed. Because of this, and the lack of available spaces, many of us–including myself–have begun moving our vehicles a little early. I also do this because I am often at the health club at 6pm, or ticket time.

At any rate, this past week I moved my vehicle from one side of the street to the other about a half hour early so I would get a spot and so I wouldn’t forget; about half the others on the street did the same. Well low and behold I went out later and found the above ticket on my windshield. When I looked down the street I could see half  the other vehicles had tickets as well.

Vehicles are ticketed if they are moved too early and they are ticketed if  they are moved to late. Apparently we are expected to move our vehicles precisely as the bell tolls 6pm. What a racket, or at least a money-making scam for the city.

This same night I had to put gas in the vehicle…it was, in fact, the first time I used it in a week.

Now here’s the moral of the story. I received a $30 ticket and put $25 worth of gas in the vehicle…the cost of riding my bike: $0.

Now I know that some of you will probably ask me why I don’t, or even suggest, that I sell the vehicle and go entirely car free. And all I can say is that for reasons I’d rather not disclose in such a public forum I am unable to go entirely car-free at present…but in the future, maybe a year or two, I probably will. But then again by that time we all may be without cars when there is no more petrol (click here).

This evening I am catering a dinner two miles from my house and I’ll ride to it on one of my bikes. It’s a beautiful fall day and the thought of getting behind the wheel of my vehicle would just be silly. And when I finish for the evening, and after the stress and hustle-and-bustle of the kitchen are behind me, I’ll hop on my bike and pedal home in the cool and crisp fall night. The feeling of freedom and freshness of the air I’ll experience is something I would not receive if I hopped in a car.

The below graphic was found here (click it for a closer view). To read more about the costs of car ownership–overt and hidden–click here, here, here, or here.

>Costs of Car Ownership

>

Ok, fist you’re probably wondering why I am writing about cars on a blog like this. Well as I’ve said in the past I am not car-free, just car-lite…sometimes lighter than others. I am also not a person that is against you having a car…that’s you’re business not mine. I just find that riding bicycles makes more sense to me most of the time, and on many levels…when I’m on a bike I usually feel free; when I’m in my car I often feel bored or agitated by traffic. And while this blog is meant to promote bicycles and a general simpler way of living in the city (mostly these posts are reminders for myself), it is definitly not attempting to be an anti-car blog…again, driving a car is your business. But if you are reading this blog–or more specifically, if you are a regular reader of this blog–something tells me you agree with this at least to a certain level.

If I had to sum it up in a more specific definition I would say that this blog is more about bicycles being accepted by motorists and not thought of as mere toys. But as is often the case, I’m getting off topic. Here’s the real meaning f this post.

In the past month I have driven my vehicle maybe 4 or 5 times; this is relatively easy to do when the weather is nice. I put $20 worth of gas in it something like 3 weeks ago. Mostly I move it from one side of the street to the other twice a week…and this is the real reason of this post.

Like many city streets, the one on which I live was built before the advent of the auto…it’s narrow and not many of the houses have driveways; there are more cars on the street than there are spaces. If you arrive home after 5pm you will most likely not get a parking space. And twice a week–Monday and Thursday at 6pm–we are required to move our cars from one side of the street to the other. If you don’t move your vehicle within about 30 minutes of the allotted time it is usually ticketed. Because of this, and the lack of available spaces, many of us–including myself–have begun moving our vehicles a little early. I also do this because I am often at the health club at 6pm, or ticket time.

At any rate, this past week I moved my vehicle from one side of the street to the other about a half hour early so I would get a spot and so I wouldn’t forget; about half the others on the street did the same. Well low and behold I went out later and found the above ticket on my windshield. When I looked down the street I could see half  the other vehicles had tickets as well.

Vehicles are ticketed if they are moved too early and they are ticketed if  they are moved to late. Apparently we are expected to move our vehicles precisely as the bell tolls 6pm. What a racket, or at least a money-making scam for the city.

This same night I had to put gas in the vehicle…it was, in fact, the first time I used it in a week.

Now here’s the moral of the story. I received a $30 ticket and put $25 worth of gas in the vehicle…the cost of riding my bike: $0.

Now I know that some of you will probably ask me why I don’t, or even suggest, that I sell the vehicle and go entirely car free. And all I can say is that for reasons I’d rather not disclose in such a public forum I am unable to go entirely car-free at present…but in the future, maybe a year or two, I probably will. But then again by that time we all may be without cars when there is no more petrol (click here).

This evening I am catering a dinner two miles from my house and I’ll ride to it on one of my bikes. It’s a beautiful fall day and the thought of getting behind the wheel of my vehicle would just be silly. And when I finish for the evening, and after the stress and hustle-and-bustle of the kitchen are behind me, I’ll hop on my bike and pedal home in the cool and crisp fall night. The feeling of freedom and freshness of the air I’ll experience is something I would not receive if I hopped in a car.

The below graphic was found here (click it for a closer view). To read more about the costs of car ownership–overt and hidden–click here, here, here, or here.

Mundo with Bread Platform

Though it may look like it, that is not my Mundo pictured above. These are pictures sent in from Dan, a reader of this blog and fellow Mundo rider (thanks Dan!).

During the course of posts, comments, and virtual conversation, a few of us were curious as to how the Mundo bread platform mounted to the bike, so Dan sent us some photos. Personally, I was curious because I am interested on mounting one on my winter bike, the Mule, making it a sort of shorter winter cargo bike.

Stefan, over at Mein Yuba Mundo, sent me this link of a German off-shoot of the Mundo with a very similar rack. He was also kind enough to translate the important parts for me, and it reads as thus:  “This practical platform can be mounted on most other bikes.”

I’ve been thinking about ordering one for a while but have been put off by the price…$119 seems a little steep, but when I compared it to others on the market it looks comparable, and it certainly looks sturdy. I’ll without doubt get my use out of it no matter which bike I mount it on. Looks like I’m going to bite the bullet and order one.  I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks for the pics and links guys. Click the below photos to see a closer view.