Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#231)…and a quick recipe

 
A plastic crate containing three loaves of bread made with four ingredients: flour, water, salt, and yeast.
Simple Rustic Loaf
Makes 1 loaf
1 ¼ cups water
3 teaspoons yeast
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups unbleached bread flour, divided
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Combine the water, yeast and whole wheat flour; stir to form a batter. Allow to ferment for 1 hour. Add the bread flour along with the salt and knead the dough for 10-12 minutes. Place the dough in a bowl at room temperature, cover it with plastic wrap, and allow it to ferment for 1 – 1 ½ hours. Remove the dough from the bowl and gently shape it into a loafl. Place it in a lightly oiled loaf pan and cover with a towel. Allow it to rise for 1 hour. Position the oven rack to the center of the oven and place a shallow pan of water directly on the oven floor. Preheat the oven to 375F. Bake the bread for about 30 minutes. Remove it from the oven and it’s pan and place it on a wire rack or towel to cool before slicing. 

>Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#231)…and a quick recipe

>

 
A plastic crate containing three loaves of bread made with four ingredients: flour, water, salt, and yeast.
Simple Rustic Loaf
Makes 1 loaf
1 ¼ cups water
3 teaspoons yeast
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups unbleached bread flour, divided
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Combine the water, yeast and whole wheat flour; stir to form a batter. Allow to ferment for 1 hour. Add the bread flour along with the salt and knead the dough for 10-12 minutes. Place the dough in a bowl at room temperature, cover it with plastic wrap, and allow it to ferment for 1 – 1 ½ hours. Remove the dough from the bowl and gently shape it into a loafl. Place it in a lightly oiled loaf pan and cover with a towel. Allow it to rise for 1 hour. Position the oven rack to the center of the oven and place a shallow pan of water directly on the oven floor. Preheat the oven to 375F. Bake the bread for about 30 minutes. Remove it from the oven and it’s pan and place it on a wire rack or towel to cool before slicing. 

Fall Harvest

I finally pulled up the garden in the front yard today. We haven’t had any frost yet so there were still vegetables growing. Amazing! I would have let it grow longer but this Saturday I am getting my annual shipment of firewood and he dumps it (you guessed it) right in the front yard. I still have a few things growing in the backyard but this little harvest is truly awesome. It is, after all, closer to November than the beginning of October. This is proof that you can grow at least some of your own food at home no matter how little land you have. Many of these vegetables literally butt up against the sidewalk (pavements) as they grow. Below is the diagram of my front yard garden I drew last spring (click it for a larger view); each square represents 6 inches. Part of what I like about having the garden out front is that I walk through it every time I enter or exit the house.

Until next year….

>Fall Harvest

>

I finally pulled up the garden in the front yard today. We haven’t had any frost yet so there were still vegetables growing. Amazing! I would have let it grow longer but this Saturday I am getting my annual shipment of firewood and he dumps it (you guessed it) right in the front yard. I still have a few things growing in the backyard but this little harvest is truly awesome. It is, after all, closer to November than the beginning of October. This is proof that you can grow at least some of your own food at home no matter how little land you have. Many of these vegetables literally butt up against the sidewalk (pavements) as they grow. Below is the diagram of my front yard garden I drew last spring (click it for a larger view); each square represents 6 inches. Part of what I like about having the garden out front is that I walk through it every time I enter or exit the house.

Until next year….

Crows in a Tree

This evening on my way home it was just before dark and the wind was blowing hard. I rode into it and was thankful I was not on a fixie and had the option to downshift. And as I pedaled I watched a large flock of crows as they weaved and floated in the wind above me (is that the correct term…flock of crows?). When I arrived home they were still overhead and I stood and watched them for a few minutes…they were beautiful and graceful. They eventually landed on various trees and swayed in the wind for a few moments before starting off again and heading towards Lake Erie. They looked so peaceful…it made me peaceful.

26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 
Matthew 6:26-27 (NIV)

>Crows in a Tree

>

This evening on my way home it was just before dark and the wind was blowing hard. I rode into it and was thankful I was not on a fixie and had the option to downshift. And as I pedaled I watched a large flock of crows as they weaved and floated in the wind above me (is that the correct term…flock of crows?). When I arrived home they were still overhead and I stood and watched them for a few minutes…they were beautiful and graceful. They eventually landed on various trees and swayed in the wind for a few moments before starting off again and heading towards Lake Erie. They looked so peaceful…it made me peaceful.

26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 
Matthew 6:26-27 (NIV)

Chilly Evening Ride on the Mundo

This past week I have been so focused on upgrading the Mule and getting it in shape for the winter that I have not ridden the Mundo. After work I had a few errands to run and then later this evening I had an appointment to keep…all of which I did while riding the Mundo. I believe that because I have been riding the Mundo all summer, and that it has become somewhat of my “everyday bike” whether I’m carrying anything or not, I may have been taking it for granted a bit…and switching bikes for a week or so has helped me realize this. I had forgotten what a smooth ride it was…and how long and heavy it is. But mostly I forgot how good it felt to ride this bike; how comfortable it is. I am not a big guy, but for such a big bike it feels like a perfect fit. On my way home from this evening it was chilly–the first time this season I actually wore gloves–and it felt good to be on this bike. I pedaled, coasted, and at one point where there was an incline, I stood on the pedals and coasted through traffic. There was not a different way I would have chosen to transport myself home this evening. What a wonderful fall evening.

>Chilly Evening Ride on the Mundo

>

This past week I have been so focused on upgrading the Mule and getting it in shape for the winter that I have not ridden the Mundo. After work I had a few errands to run and then later this evening I had an appointment to keep…all of which I did while riding the Mundo. I believe that because I have been riding the Mundo all summer, and that it has become somewhat of my “everyday bike” whether I’m carrying anything or not, I may have been taking it for granted a bit…and switching bikes for a week or so has helped me realize this. I had forgotten what a smooth ride it was…and how long and heavy it is. But mostly I forgot how good it felt to ride this bike; how comfortable it is. I am not a big guy, but for such a big bike it feels like a perfect fit. On my way home from this evening it was chilly–the first time this season I actually wore gloves–and it felt good to be on this bike. I pedaled, coasted, and at one point where there was an incline, I stood on the pedals and coasted through traffic. There was not a different way I would have chosen to transport myself home this evening. What a wonderful fall evening.

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#229)…and how I lost my squeak

$100.24 of groceries in a BicycleR Evolution trailer.

Besides what I carried (towed) on my bike today, this is a continuation of a post from couple days ago  regarding a squeak I was unable to diagnose (click here to read that post).  First off I would like to say thanks again for all those who gave me suggestions…greatly appreciated and I got the squeak fixed. After squeaking my way to and from church this morning I was determined to address the problem. Then this afternoon I was to go grocery shopping and had fully intended on loading the Mundo with crates but was so thrilled to be squeak-less that I thought I’d use the BikeRev trailer and see if it was truly fixed. On the 4-mile round trip I am glad to say that there was nary a squeak to be heard (the break cables are another matter).

So, the big question…what was the source of the problematic squeak, or what did I do to rectify it? We’ll, this is slightly embarassing (not really…just being over-dramatic).

This is the big technical operation I did to stop the squeak…drum roll please.

I tightened the bottom bracket, and just a little bit. Yup…that’s it.

After removing the left crank (the source area of the pesky squeak) I tightened the bottom bracket like 1/8 of a turn, maybe not even that much. And low and behold it does not squeak. Go figure.

I’ll just say that this has been a learning experience (mechanically speaking). Thanks again to all those who gave advice.

>Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#229)…and how I lost my squeak

>

$100.24 of groceries in a BicycleR Evolution trailer.

Besides what I carried (towed) on my bike today, this is a continuation of a post from couple days ago  regarding a squeak I was unable to diagnose (click here to read that post).  First off I would like to say thanks again for all those who gave me suggestions…greatly appreciated and I got the squeak fixed. After squeaking my way to and from church this morning I was determined to address the problem. Then this afternoon I was to go grocery shopping and had fully intended on loading the Mundo with crates but was so thrilled to be squeak-less that I thought I’d use the BikeRev trailer and see if it was truly fixed. On the 4-mile round trip I am glad to say that there was nary a squeak to be heard (the break cables are another matter).

So, the big question…what was the source of the problematic squeak, or what did I do to rectify it? We’ll, this is slightly embarassing (not really…just being over-dramatic).

This is the big technical operation I did to stop the squeak…drum roll please.

I tightened the bottom bracket, and just a little bit. Yup…that’s it.

After removing the left crank (the source area of the pesky squeak) I tightened the bottom bracket like 1/8 of a turn, maybe not even that much. And low and behold it does not squeak. Go figure.

I’ll just say that this has been a learning experience (mechanically speaking). Thanks again to all those who gave advice.

Burning Bush

I walk under this burning bush to enter the rear door of my place of employment…more like a burning canopy. Incredible. Yesterday it seemed to be illuminated. It’s easy to see why it has this name. I was stressed on my way to work  because of the busy day ahead of me and I stood and admired it for a moment before entering (and took this photo)….it helped (a little). Anyhow…thought I’d share it.

>Burning Bush

>

I walk under this burning bush to enter the rear door of my place of employment…more like a burning canopy. Incredible. Yesterday it seemed to be illuminated. It’s easy to see why it has this name. I was stressed on my way to work  because of the busy day ahead of me and I stood and admired it for a moment before entering (and took this photo)….it helped (a little). Anyhow…thought I’d share it.

Return of the Scorcher

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-1753917347928363206&hl=en&fs=true

I just came across this short documentary (27 minutes) and if I had to sum it up in a word it would be: excellent. If I could use another it would be: inspiring. I know many have probably seen this before–given it was originally released in 1992–but I had not. And I found it interesting that what it says (the over all message) is just as relevant, possibly even more relent, today. I’ve you’ve not seen it and are interested in bicycling as a valid form of transportation I encourage you to do so.

Here’s a description copied from Ted White’s website (the filmmaker).

This half-hour documentary looks at bike culture and bike lifestyles around the world with beautiful and inspiring scenes of bike use filmed in China, The Netherlands, Denmark, and the U.S.
In the 1890’s, before automobiles ruled the roads, bicyclists were referred to as “Scorchers” because of their blazing speed. A century later, in a world filled with car-related environmental and social problems, Return of the Scorcher discovers an inspired and evolving bicycling renaissance.
This documentary touches on a surprising variety of subjects including romance, rebellion, early feminism, and spirituality – all viewed within the context of bicycling.

Return of the Scorcher questions our obsession with “progress” and status and presents a diverse cross-section of cycling visionaries who see the bicycle as a life-affirming vehicle for change.

Featured interviewees include: Marcia Lowe, Michael Replogle, Iain Boal, Ellen Fletcher, George Bliss and others.