>It’s on Its Way

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Photo Found Here
Just got word from the good people at Yuba that my order is being processed, which I’m assuming means is ready to be shipped. I ordered the bike more than a month ago and had to wait because I ordered the stylish matte black variety. Most of my bikes are painted black (my current Mundo being the exception); I either purchased them that way or painted them myself. I suppose it’s my somewhat sarcastic nod to Henry Ford and his famous quote about his original automobiles: “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black”. At any rate, I am very excited; I’ll keep you posted…and hey, it’s way cheaper than a sports car.

Incidentally, my current Mundo is still for sale. I’ve temporarily lowered the price to $600(u.s.). If you’re within a 150 mile radius (240K) of where I live and are interested feel free to email or leave a post. Quite a bargain for a bike of this caliber.

A Very Close Call

 
Photo found here.
I have a scary story to relate and am still a little shaken by it. But first I have to say that the above photo is not the person I mention in the story. I don’t know who the person was in real life nor do I know who the person is in the photo; it just fit the story. 
The story is that I came very close tonight to being hit by a car, and the irony is that I was riding on the sidewalk (pavement), not in the street. I was on the sidewalk because I was riding down Delaware Avenue which has absolutely no shoulder and cars fly past way faster than they should, otherwise I would normally be riding in the street.
Anyhow, there I was pedaling down my familiar route to the gym for a quick steam and swim. And as any bicylist knows who rides a regular route, I was aware of every crack in the road, blind spots around parked cars and buildings, and other problematic areas. So as I approached the parking lot of an apartment building that is surrounded by a 4-foot brick wall I did what I usually do…stand up on my pedals so I can see over the wall to see if a car is about to exit. I didn’t see anyone so I sat back down and pedaled.
Just as my front tire entered the driveway a car came swinging out and the driver was looking in the opposite direction, attempting to plunge herself into the rush-hour traffic. This entire event happened in maybe a second or two but it seemed like longer. 
Normally if I see a driver coming when our paths will cross I make eye contact…both for my sake and so that they see that I see them. This wasn’t going to happen, at least not for a second or two…which was almost a second too late.
It’s interesting how you never know how you are going to act in certain situations, or what you will say. It would be different if it were a planned situation but they never are. Anyhow, all I could do was yell Whoa! Hey! She still was looking the other way and I truly felt she was ready to step on the gas pedal and gun it out into the street. At this point I was directly in front of the car, only a few feet away and it was heading directly for me. In that split second, the moment when I really thought I was going to get hit, the only thing that came to mind was: This is going to hurt. I was maybe two feet directly in front of this moving car. 
Then, in an instant she turned and slammed on the breaks…screeching to a halt. My right pedal clipped the bumper of the car. I almost fell off the bike.
At this point our eyes finally met and she looked horrified (I’m sure I did as well) and she said something, probably apologizing though I couldn’t hear her through the glass. Under “normal circumstances” I would be more sympathizing to her. But in this case the first words that came out of my mouth were: What the f**K is wrong with you? Keep your eyes on the f**king road.
As I pedaled on I visibly shook. And as I pedaled I also thanked God that I was not hit and I prayed for the women who almost hit me…both of our lives would have been changed forever. When I arrived at the gym I sat in the steam room until I was as shriveled as an old pickle. The heat felt good; it felt good to sweat…it felt good to feel.
I guess the moral of this story, fellow bicyclists, is that even on the sidewalk you are not safe from the over-population of often numb and non-aware drivers. Ride, but ride safely.

>A Very Close Call

>

 
Photo found here.
I have a scary story to relate and am still a little shaken by it. But first I have to say that the above photo is not the person I mention in the story. I don’t know who the person was in real life nor do I know who the person is in the photo; it just fit the story. 
The story is that I came very close tonight to being hit by a car, and the irony is that I was riding on the sidewalk (pavement), not in the street. I was on the sidewalk because I was riding down Delaware Avenue which has absolutely no shoulder and cars fly past way faster than they should, otherwise I would normally be riding in the street.
Anyhow, there I was pedaling down my familiar route to the gym for a quick steam and swim. And as any bicylist knows who rides a regular route, I was aware of every crack in the road, blind spots around parked cars and buildings, and other problematic areas. So as I approached the parking lot of an apartment building that is surrounded by a 4-foot brick wall I did what I usually do…stand up on my pedals so I can see over the wall to see if a car is about to exit. I didn’t see anyone so I sat back down and pedaled.
Just as my front tire entered the driveway a car came swinging out and the driver was looking in the opposite direction, attempting to plunge herself into the rush-hour traffic. This entire event happened in maybe a second or two but it seemed like longer. 
Normally if I see a driver coming when our paths will cross I make eye contact…both for my sake and so that they see that I see them. This wasn’t going to happen, at least not for a second or two…which was almost a second too late.
It’s interesting how you never know how you are going to act in certain situations, or what you will say. It would be different if it were a planned situation but they never are. Anyhow, all I could do was yell Whoa! Hey! She still was looking the other way and I truly felt she was ready to step on the gas pedal and gun it out into the street. At this point I was directly in front of the car, only a few feet away and it was heading directly for me. In that split second, the moment when I really thought I was going to get hit, the only thing that came to mind was: This is going to hurt. I was maybe two feet directly in front of this moving car. 
Then, in an instant she turned and slammed on the breaks…screeching to a halt. My right pedal clipped the bumper of the car. I almost fell off the bike.
At this point our eyes finally met and she looked horrified (I’m sure I did as well) and she said something, probably apologizing though I couldn’t hear her through the glass. Under “normal circumstances” I would be more sympathizing to her. But in this case the first words that came out of my mouth were: What the f**K is wrong with you? Keep your eyes on the f**king road.
As I pedaled on I visibly shook. And as I pedaled I also thanked God that I was not hit and I prayed for the women who almost hit me…both of our lives would have been changed forever. When I arrived at the gym I sat in the steam room until I was as shriveled as an old pickle. The heat felt good; it felt good to sweat…it felt good to feel.
I guess the moral of this story, fellow bicyclists, is that even on the sidewalk you are not safe from the over-population of often numb and non-aware drivers. Ride, but ride safely.

Penne e Carote con Aglio e Olio (variation on a theme)

Tonight when I looked in my fridge for ingredients for dinner the pickings were slim. I’m abstaining from meat during Lent (I know, I know, you’re not supposed to talk about it) so this narrowed things considerably. My crisper drawer held one vegetable: carrots; I also had onions and garlic in the pantry. I had gone to the gym today for a steam and swim, and also rode about 5 miles in today’s heavy snow…in short, I burned a lot of calories and my body craved something both delicious and substantial. Of course I thought of pasta, one of my favorite foods.

This is a variation of the classic Italian pasta dish spaghetti aglio e olio (spaghetti with olive oil and garlic). It is peasant food at its finest, and it is one of my favorite pasta preparations…you can cook nearly anything in your fridge or pantry this way and it is guaranteed to turn out delicious and nutritious.Anyhow, this is how I made it:

Saute carrots and onion in olive oil over medium-high heat for a few minutes (I also added a piece of diced green pepper because I happened to have it).

When the vegetables are translucent but not browned, add a clove or two of minced garlic along with whatever other seasonings you’re using; I added hot pepper flakes, fennel seed, and basil. Cook this for another few minutes (aren’t the colors amazing?).

At this point you have to add liquid to deglaze the pan and create a little sauce. I’m a big proponent of stocks and broths, because when you add one of these you are adding flavor to the recipe. But you can also add water (which I do occasionally when I want a dish that is lighter and less rich). Normally I would add chicken broth even though this is a vegetable recipe, but tonight I added vegetable broth (and a little sea salt)…and the outcome was delicious.

The key is that after you add the broth it has to reduce (evaporate) at least by half (which happens rather quickly) in order to concentrate both the flavor of the broth and the primary vegetable.

While the vegetables and sauce were cooking I boiled my favorite whole grain pasta very al dente. After draining the slightly undercooked pasta I added it to the sauce. The pasta finishes cooking in the sauce and absorbs flavors at the same time (add more broth if necessary). This could easily be a vegan dish if you didn’t add cheese to it, but I have to have either Parmesan or Romano cheese with pasta.

This recipe is proof that even the most mundane vegetable can be made into something truly delicious. The flavors were incredible. I consciously use the past tense were instead of are because I had intended on making enough to have leftovers tomorrow…well, let’s just say that didn’t work out as planned. Yum!

>Penne e Carote con Aglio e Olio (variation on a theme)

>Tonight when I looked in my fridge for ingredients for dinner the pickings were slim. I’m abstaining from meat during Lent (I know, I know, you’re not supposed to talk about it) so this narrowed things considerably. My crisper drawer held one vegetable: carrots; I also had onions and garlic in the pantry. I had gone to the gym today for a steam and swim, and also rode about 5 miles in today’s heavy snow…in short, I burned a lot of calories and my body craved something both delicious and substantial. Of course I thought of pasta, one of my favorite foods.

This is a variation of the classic Italian pasta dish spaghetti aglio e olio (spaghetti with olive oil and garlic). It is peasant food at its finest, and it is one of my favorite pasta preparations…you can cook nearly anything in your fridge or pantry this way and it is guaranteed to turn out delicious and nutritious.Anyhow, this is how I made it:

Saute carrots and onion in olive oil over medium-high heat for a few minutes (I also added a piece of diced green pepper because I happened to have it).

When the vegetables are translucent but not browned, add a clove or two of minced garlic along with whatever other seasonings you’re using; I added hot pepper flakes, fennel seed, and basil. Cook this for another few minutes (aren’t the colors amazing?).

At this point you have to add liquid to deglaze the pan and create a little sauce. I’m a big proponent of stocks and broths, because when you add one of these you are adding flavor to the recipe. But you can also add water (which I do occasionally when I want a dish that is lighter and less rich). Normally I would add chicken broth even though this is a vegetable recipe, but tonight I added vegetable broth (and a little sea salt)…and the outcome was delicious.

The key is that after you add the broth it has to reduce (evaporate) at least by half (which happens rather quickly) in order to concentrate both the flavor of the broth and the primary vegetable.

While the vegetables and sauce were cooking I boiled my favorite whole grain pasta very al dente. After draining the slightly undercooked pasta I added it to the sauce. The pasta finishes cooking in the sauce and absorbs flavors at the same time (add more broth if necessary). This could easily be a vegan dish if you didn’t add cheese to it, but I have to have either Parmesan or Romano cheese with pasta.

This recipe is proof that even the most mundane vegetable can be made into something truly delicious. The flavors were incredible. I consciously use the past tense were instead of are because I had intended on making enough to have leftovers tomorrow…well, let’s just say that didn’t work out as planned. Yum!

French Onion Sellers and French Onion Soup




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Images of Onion Sellers on Bicycles Were Found Here

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Soupe a L’oignon Gratinee (French Onion Soup)

Yield: 5-6 cups

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 large onions, peeled and sliced thinly

2 cups beef broth

2 cups chicken broth

6 slices French bread, toasted

4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese

2 ounces grated Gruyère cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter and oil in a heavy saucepan. Add the onions and sauté over low heat until onions are golden brown, about 40 minutes. Stir in the beef and chicken stock, bring to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and cook the soup for 30 minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into oven-proof bowls and top each soup with a slice of French bread and the grated cheeses. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden brown.

Onion Soup Image Found Here

>French Onion Sellers and French Onion Soup

>




.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Images of Onion Sellers on Bicycles Were Found Here

.

Soupe a L’oignon Gratinee (French Onion Soup)

Yield: 5-6 cups

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 large onions, peeled and sliced thinly

2 cups beef broth

2 cups chicken broth

6 slices French bread, toasted

4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese

2 ounces grated Gruyère cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter and oil in a heavy saucepan. Add the onions and sauté over low heat until onions are golden brown, about 40 minutes. Stir in the beef and chicken stock, bring to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and cook the soup for 30 minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into oven-proof bowls and top each soup with a slice of French bread and the grated cheeses. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden brown.

Onion Soup Image Found Here

1898 Fongers Military Bicycle

I think this photo is so interesting; it was found at this flicker photostream. Here’s what the caption says about it:

“1898 Fongers militairy bicycle, this bicycle could be separated in two peases [sic]. Picture came out of a recently discovered crate from the old Fongers-factory filled with glass negatives. What you see is also a picture made from the 1898 glass-negative.”

This photo was taken 112 years ago but this bike could be as useful today as it was back then. I love how the leather bags are integrated into the frame, and that there is actually a spare tire. I wonder what operated the headlight (kerosene?). It looks as if it were a single speed…look at the size of the front gear to the rear one…this thing must have flew.

>1898 Fongers Military Bicycle

>I think this photo is so interesting; it was found at this flicker photostream. Here’s what the caption says about it:

“1898 Fongers militairy bicycle, this bicycle could be separated in two peases [sic]. Picture came out of a recently discovered crate from the old Fongers-factory filled with glass negatives. What you see is also a picture made from the 1898 glass-negative.”

This photo was taken 112 years ago but this bike could be as useful today as it was back then. I love how the leather bags are integrated into the frame, and that there is actually a spare tire. I wonder what operated the headlight (kerosene?). It looks as if it were a single speed…look at the size of the front gear to the rear one…this thing must have flew.

Scary Situation (and stupidity on my part)

So there I was…coasting down a slight incline this evening. I had just left the gym and felt refreshed; had a couple slices of pizza for dinner on the rear rack. I noticed the front break is rubbing against the rim. Not unusual, I thought; the caliper just needs some adjusting. So I lean forward as I coasted and pushed it aside a little. A minute later it did it again. When I came to a stop light and inspected a little closer I realized it wasn’t the break at all, but the rim, more specifically the bolt attaching it to the fork. Yup, both bolts were so loose that I could have easily lifted the tire off the bike…and I coasting down a hill like this (on a sixty pound bike).

This is a v1 Mundo and when I ordered it a box arrived basically containing all of the pieces (when I say pieces I mean it; almost nothing was put together) …it took the better part of an evening (and some cursing) for me to put this thing together in my living room (according to their website the v3 arrives mostly assembled…I’ll let you know). At any rate, I originally attached this bolt, and most others on the bike, about a year-and-a-half ago and have not checked it since (this is where my stupidity comes in). No need to, I thought; the bike is still new and I put it together…think again. In the same way a car has to be inspected yearly I think I’ll get in the habit of inspecting my bikes more often for faulty or loose parts. I don’t even want to imagine what could have happened if the front wheel came off while I was coasting down a hill on a busy and icy city street.