>In Praise of Cargo Bikes

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This post is really in response to this article I came across at the Grist website. The catchy title of the article is initially drew my attention: Tricked-out cargo bikes give SUVs a run for their money. It’s a good article and basically just another thing to stroke your ego as a cargo cyclist. If that isn’t enough and you need even more positive reinforcement I encourage you to watch the short slide-show of cargo bikes below (never mind the hokey music). I really feel cargo bikes are the answer to many of our current problems.And yes, I know I’m mostly preaching to the choir by posting these sentiments on a blog which largely centers on bike riding. None-the-less, it’s good to feel good about riding a 7ft bike now and again.

Old Garden Posters

I Love these…old adverts for victory gardens (also called liberty gardens during WW I).With the food issues we have today (and I’m not talking about scarcity, but more so about factory farming, pesticides, and lack of diversity) I can’t help but wonder if these posters aren’t more relevant than ever.

Isaac Carrying Stuff on a 1990 Raleigh Technium

This is my teenage son who reluctantly agreed to have his picture taken before he pedaled away (are you done yet dad?). He’s adopted my old Raleigh Technium and it suits him well. I used to love that bike, and one of the things I loved about it is that it is really fast. Now I’m much more inclined to go slow and easy. Anyhow, these are some of the things he carried: a laptop computer, an iPod, an acoustic guitar, books, and a stack of CDs.

>Isaac Carrying Stuff on a 1990 Raleigh Technium

>

This is my teenage son who reluctantly agreed to have his picture taken before he pedaled away (are you done yet dad?). He’s adopted my old Raleigh Technium and it suits him well. I used to love that bike, and one of the things I loved about it is that it is really fast. Now I’m much more inclined to go slow and easy. Anyhow, these are some of the things he carried: a laptop computer, an iPod, an acoustic guitar, books, and a stack of CDs.

Tortellini alla Giardino

This is a simple recipe that is only partially true to it’s title..it is not entirely alla giardino (from my garden), but there are a few things. Mainly, I’ve had a Swiss chard plant that grows back almost as fast as I eat it (there are worse problems), and the basil is already in full swing. Unfortunately tomatoes and peppers are not ready yet for sauce (ahh, the anticipation). And as I’ve done on other sticky days this year…I cooked this under the canopy of a grapevine in the backyard to keep from heating up my teeny kitchen (I get enough kitchen heat on-the-job). Anyhow, this is an exceedingly easy recipe to prepare, and ingredients can be substituted to suit your taste. Here it is in pictures Click any photo for a larger view).

>Tortellini alla Giardino

>

This is a simple recipe that is only partially true to it’s title..it is not entirely alla giardino (from my garden), but there are a few things. Mainly, I’ve had a Swiss chard plant that grows back almost as fast as I eat it (there are worse problems), and the basil is already in full swing. Unfortunately tomatoes and peppers are not ready yet for sauce (ahh, the anticipation). And as I’ve done on other sticky days this year…I cooked this under the canopy of a grapevine in the backyard to keep from heating up my teeny kitchen (I get enough kitchen heat on-the-job). Anyhow, this is an exceedingly easy recipe to prepare, and ingredients can be substituted to suit your taste. Here it is in pictures Click any photo for a larger view).

Where’s Tony?

Photo found here.

In the event that you don’t know who Tony Hayward is, he is the CEO of British Petroleum…you know, the company that is currently responsible for the worst ecological disaster in history (but then again, aren’t we all a little responsible?). That’s him sitting in the middle of the photo above. And no, this is not a picture of him in the gulf working tirelessly to stop this thing. Where is he, you may ask? He’s on his yacht at a race near the Isle of Wight. Now this may seem harsh for me to be so critical, after all his job is stressful as it is…and this only makes it worse…maybe he needs a break, right? Wrong. I’m sorry, but I don’t feel that way. He should be working tirelessly, day-and-night, to stop this thing. Maybe he knows something we don’t. Thanks for the confidence, Tony…but I’m still really concerned and scared…even if you’re not.

>Where’s Tony?

>

Photo found here.

In the event that you don’t know who Tony Hayward is, he is the CEO of British Petroleum…you know, the company that is currently responsible for the worst ecological disaster in history (but then again, aren’t we all a little responsible?). That’s him sitting in the middle of the photo above. And no, this is not a picture of him in the gulf working tirelessly to stop this thing. Where is he, you may ask? He’s on his yacht at a race near the Isle of Wight. Now this may seem harsh for me to be so critical, after all his job is stressful as it is…and this only makes it worse…maybe he needs a break, right? Wrong. I’m sorry, but I don’t feel that way. He should be working tirelessly, day-and-night, to stop this thing. Maybe he knows something we don’t. Thanks for the confidence, Tony…but I’m still really concerned and scared…even if you’re not.

Ride A Bike!

This is an inspiring video by John Burke, president of Trek bikes. I first came across this when I was contemplating putting a 1world2wheels widget on this blog…then I realized that I already do most of the things they suggest (not all, but most…I did drive my truck yesterday…first time in nearly 3 weeks). Then as I was watching the video, which I encourage you to do (if you don’t already ride a bike this will probably make you get on one), I was thinking how Trek (along with many “mainstream” bikes) doesn’t really carry a bike that I would want to ride, let alone purchase (though my winter bike–the mule–is an old Trek). Then I came across this bike, the Trek Transporter, designed by Gary Fisher…excellent. Another example of how I believe that longtails are the bikes of the future, or more specifically, the present.

>Ride A Bike!

>This is an inspiring video by John Burke, president of Trek bikes. I first came across this when I was contemplating putting a 1world2wheels widget on this blog…then I realized that I already do most of the things they suggest (not all, but most…I did drive my truck yesterday…first time in nearly 3 weeks). Then as I was watching the video, which I encourage you to do (if you don’t already ride a bike this will probably make you get on one), I was thinking how Trek (along with many “mainstream” bikes) doesn’t really carry a bike that I would want to ride, let alone purchase (though my winter bike–the mule–is an old Trek). Then I came across this bike, the Trek Transporter, designed by Gary Fisher…excellent. Another example of how I believe that longtails are the bikes of the future, or more specifically, the present.

A Cleverly Defaced Billboard

I love this…originally posted here, but I came across it at the Urban Country.

Appropriate, I thought when I first saw this.

I, like many people, have been following the oil spill in the gulf, and most of what I’ve been hearing (other than how to stop this thing) is about alternative methods to extracting oil from the earth. Hmmm…seems to me like we should think of alternative methods for many other things as well so we could reduce our addiction to the stuff.

>A Cleverly Defaced Billboard

>

I love this…originally posted here, but I came across it at the Urban Country.

Appropriate, I thought when I first saw this.

I, like many people, have been following the oil spill in the gulf, and most of what I’ve been hearing (other than how to stop this thing) is about alternative methods to extracting oil from the earth. Hmmm…seems to me like we should think of alternative methods for many other things as well so we could reduce our addiction to the stuff.

Another Reason To Like Yuba Bikes

I just read that Yuba bikes are offering a stripped down version of their Mundo for $899. What’s really awesome is that when you purchase one of these bikes they donate a complete bike to Wheels4Life, a charity that offers free bikes to those in need in third world countries. The following is cut-and-paste  from the Yuba website.

Let us say it again: the $899 are buying TWO bikes, one delivered to you and the other one given to Wheels4Life. The bike will shipped to you and the donation bike receipt will be sent to Wheels4Life. Wheels 4 Life will then acknowledge your donation.

To visit the Yuba site click here; to visit the Wheels4Life click here.