>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.

Fortune Cookie Philosophy

Friday nights are somewhat of a loose tradition with my son and I…we rent a movie and order Chinese takeout. And I always look forward to the fortune cookie at the end  of the meal, not so much for the actual cookie but what my “fortune” will be. Call me a sap but I really like some of the positive messages they often contain…”you will soon be wealthy,” “love is in your future,” “you will live long and healthy” (click here for more).  But when I finished my meal yesterday the fortune I received is the one pictured above. This summer and fall have been some of the busiest weeks I’ve worked in years (for various reasons)…umm, I don’t need a fortune cookie scribe to tell me how hard I work. With the money and love quotes they seem to be off the mark a bit…at least with this one they were accurate. Go figure.

>Fortune Cookie Philosophy

>

Friday nights are somewhat of a loose tradition with my son and I…we rent a movie and order Chinese takeout. And I always look forward to the fortune cookie at the end  of the meal, not so much for the actual cookie but what my “fortune” will be. Call me a sap but I really like some of the positive messages they often contain…”you will soon be wealthy,” “love is in your future,” “you will live long and healthy” (click here for more).  But when I finished my meal yesterday the fortune I received is the one pictured above. This summer and fall have been some of the busiest weeks I’ve worked in years (for various reasons)…umm, I don’t need a fortune cookie scribe to tell me how hard I work. With the money and love quotes they seem to be off the mark a bit…at least with this one they were accurate. Go figure.

New Chain Guard…New Squeak

Last week I posted on prepping the Mule for winter (click here) and one of the things that I wanted to do was install a new chain guard. Well, the short answer is that I was able to install it and I really do love it. I love how efficient it is and I love how it looks (I know not everyone will agree with me on that second part…I used to be part of the non-chain guard camp myself). You can see how it originally looked in the upper left photo, and then how it protects my pants in the photo next to it. The slightly longer version of the story is that when I purchased the guard I was not aware that the bracket mounted behind the crank. I do most of my own bike repairs but had never removed a crank and bottom bracket. Well, lets just say that this was no easy task on a bike that is more than 10 years old (I’m guessing as I bought it used), and on one that has primarily been used as a winter bike. Needless to say it took the purchase of two new small tools (not a problem; I like owning my own tools), and two trips to the bike shop (click here to see it being towed by the Mundo). On the bright side–besides the fact that I love the new chain guard–I am now fully acquainted with the removal and reassembly of a crank and bottom bracket 🙂

Now here’s where I’m hoping some of my virtual bike friends can be of assistance. Since installing the new apparatus I not only have a new chain guard but also a new squeak. There is nothing rubbing, everything is securely re-installed, and it sounds like it is coming from the left crank (which seems to be firmly attached) or possibly inside the left side of the bottom bracket. It happens when I press down with my left foot; when I coast there is no sound. I’m also wondering if it is something as simple as old pedals…they are original and not the best quality. There is no drag…just a small squeak…enough to make it annoying.  As I rode home tonight from work…squeak, squeak, squeak….

Any thoughts?

>New Chain Guard…New Squeak

>

Last week I posted on prepping the Mule for winter (click here) and one of the things that I wanted to do was install a new chain guard. Well, the short answer is that I was able to install it and I really do love it. I love how efficient it is and I love how it looks (I know not everyone will agree with me on that second part…I used to be part of the non-chain guard camp myself). You can see how it originally looked in the upper left photo, and then how it protects my pants in the photo next to it. The slightly longer version of the story is that when I purchased the guard I was not aware that the bracket mounted behind the crank. I do most of my own bike repairs but had never removed a crank and bottom bracket. Well, lets just say that this was no easy task on a bike that is more than 10 years old (I’m guessing as I bought it used), and on one that has primarily been used as a winter bike. Needless to say it took the purchase of two new small tools (not a problem; I like owning my own tools), and two trips to the bike shop (click here to see it being towed by the Mundo). On the bright side–besides the fact that I love the new chain guard–I am now fully acquainted with the removal and reassembly of a crank and bottom bracket 🙂

Now here’s where I’m hoping some of my virtual bike friends can be of assistance. Since installing the new apparatus I not only have a new chain guard but also a new squeak. There is nothing rubbing, everything is securely re-installed, and it sounds like it is coming from the left crank (which seems to be firmly attached) or possibly inside the left side of the bottom bracket. It happens when I press down with my left foot; when I coast there is no sound. I’m also wondering if it is something as simple as old pedals…they are original and not the best quality. There is no drag…just a small squeak…enough to make it annoying.  As I rode home tonight from work…squeak, squeak, squeak….

Any thoughts?

Miracle In A Chilean Desert

 Image found here.

By now everyone around the world has heard of the safe rescue of the 33 miners and two paramedics in the Chilean mine, but I still felt the need to offer a brief post. I applaud these men for their spirit and endurance; it is beyond my comprehension. It’s said that a person really does not know what they are capable of until put to a test. Well I can honestly say that I do not know if I could have survived such an ordeal…especially those first 17 days without contact. And the two men that went down to assist prior to the rescue are equally heroic…so too for all those who aided and prayed throughout the weeks and months. I heard one of the master drillers interviewed on the radio the other day and he commented (I’m paraphrasing) how everything he has done in his life has lead up to this, that this is the most important thing. Then he added that he’s usually drilling for copper, but today he is drilling for human life. It brings tears to my eyes still.

Their rescue, I truly believe, is nothing short of a miracle.

Thank you Lord….Gracias Señor!

>Miracle In A Chilean Desert

>

 Image found here.

By now everyone around the world has heard of the safe rescue of the 33 miners and two paramedics in the Chilean mine, but I still felt the need to offer a brief post. I applaud these men for their spirit and endurance; it is beyond my comprehension. It’s said that a person really does not know what they are capable of until put to a test. Well I can honestly say that I do not know if I could have survived such an ordeal…especially those first 17 days without contact. And the two men that went down to assist prior to the rescue are equally heroic…so too for all those who aided and prayed throughout the weeks and months. I heard one of the master drillers interviewed on the radio the other day and he commented (I’m paraphrasing) how everything he has done in his life has lead up to this, that this is the most important thing. Then he added that he’s usually drilling for copper, but today he is drilling for human life. It brings tears to my eyes still.

Their rescue, I truly believe, is nothing short of a miracle.

Thank you Lord….Gracias Señor!

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#228)…and a comment

 
Dinner!
As I was pedaling home with pizza on my front rack, and seeing the words “We Deliver” on the box, I thought a couple things. One was that I deliver also (my own pizza, that is), but it also reminded me of a pizzeria I saw when I was in Boston on holiday a couple years ago…The Upper Crust. Their pizza is good, but that’s besides the point. The reason I mention them is that they deliver by bicycle (though I’m not sure if it is exclusively by bike). They have large wooden boxes attached to the back of ordinary mountain bikes, and when I say large I mean large (click here or here to see photos)…they sure could use a Mundo. There are a few locations but the one that I ate at was in Beacon Hill…if you’ve been to Boston you know how steep the streets are in that neighborhood…I wonder if the delivery people are allowed to eat free pizza for carbs (fuel). 

>Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#228)…and a comment

>

 
Dinner!
As I was pedaling home with pizza on my front rack, and seeing the words “We Deliver” on the box, I thought a couple things. One was that I deliver also (my own pizza, that is), but it also reminded me of a pizzeria I saw when I was in Boston on holiday a couple years ago…The Upper Crust. Their pizza is good, but that’s besides the point. The reason I mention them is that they deliver by bicycle (though I’m not sure if it is exclusively by bike). They have large wooden boxes attached to the back of ordinary mountain bikes, and when I say large I mean large (click here or here to see photos)…they sure could use a Mundo. There are a few locations but the one that I ate at was in Beacon Hill…if you’ve been to Boston you know how steep the streets are in that neighborhood…I wonder if the delivery people are allowed to eat free pizza for carbs (fuel). 

Sidewalk Brussels Sprouts

Over the years I have really grown (pun intended) to love cruciferous vegetables but have never really had much luck in my garden with brussels sprouts…usually all leaf and no vegetable. But that’s not the case this year. I have 4 plants growing in my front yard about 12 inches from the sidewalk. Maybe it was the hot summer and damp fall but the conditions must have been right…I was surprised today when I lifted their leaves to see the stalks covered in baby brussels sprouts; cabbage is doing well also (click here to see pictures). Anyhow, I was excited enough about this (it’s the little things, right?) that I thought I’d share a few pictures.

>Sidewalk Brussels Sprouts

>

Over the years I have really grown (pun intended) to love cruciferous vegetables but have never really had much luck in my garden with brussels sprouts…usually all leaf and no vegetable. But that’s not the case this year. I have 4 plants growing in my front yard about 12 inches from the sidewalk. Maybe it was the hot summer and damp fall but the conditions must have been right…I was surprised today when I lifted their leaves to see the stalks covered in baby brussels sprouts; cabbage is doing well also (click here to see pictures). Anyhow, I was excited enough about this (it’s the little things, right?) that I thought I’d share a few pictures.

The Last of the Tomatoes

I rummaged around the garden in the rear of my house today and was surprised to discover tomatoes hanging from the vines and lying on the ground…not bad for the second week of October. There are still a fair amount of green ones hanging on the vines which I didn’t pick but probably should have…I heard on the radio that tonight there is the first frost warning of the season.

>The Last of the Tomatoes

>

I rummaged around the garden in the rear of my house today and was surprised to discover tomatoes hanging from the vines and lying on the ground…not bad for the second week of October. There are still a fair amount of green ones hanging on the vines which I didn’t pick but probably should have…I heard on the radio that tonight there is the first frost warning of the season.

Autumnal

The day today was idyllic and classically autumnal. It’s rare for me to have a Saturday off of work, so I took the opportunity to enjoy the day on my bike while running errands. Whenever I’m heading to North Buffalo by bike I always try to make it a point to take the long way through Delaware Park, which is part of the Frederick Law Olmsted park system. These images are of Hoyt Lake; a walking/bike path surrounds the lake. I feel fortunate to have this bit of nature in the middle of the city.