A camera bag containing an extra camera and a zoom lens. A book bag containing a book, and e-reader, and a magazine. A plastic bag containing a new light fixture.
Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#506)
Flower with Ant and Water, and a few others…
The salad that grew in my front yard, and a few other things…
To quote Tom Petty, “the waiting is the hardest part.” It really is, isn’t it. You see things growing and hanging on their plants but they are not ready to pick…and then all at once everything seems to ripen. Today was my first real haul from my teeny front yard garden. All of the ingredients for the above salad–except the dressing, which was simply virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar–were grown there adjacent to the sidewalk (pavements, to my friends across the pond). I ate it for dinner two minutes after picking, twenty feet from where it grew, and while it while it was still warm from the sun…tomato, sweet pepper, hot pepper, cucumber, basil, Italian Parsley, and sweet basil (fresh strawberries for dessert). The first tomato I picked, I did as I usually do each year, and ate it where it grew. Geeze o’ man was this stuff good. This time of year is payoff time for a vegetable gardener. For me, growing food makes way more sense than a front lawn. I’m just sayin’…
Things That Can be Carried on a Biike (#505) and a couple comments on how the miles can add up
On the bike…a box containing nearly a full sandwich loaf on its way to a local food pantry.
I live fairly close to most things that occur within the realm of my average daily life (but what is average). I’ve consciously and gradually changed my life over the past decade to make this happen. This is one of the reasons–likely the biggest reason–I have been able to go car-free. But still the miles/kilometers add up just within daily travel. And this is a good thing as it provides exercise and really interesting views from my handlebars. Here’s an example of how I traveled today (distances are approximate).
.75 mi/1.2 km to work this morning.
1 mi/1.6 km to the food pantry
1 mi/1.6 km back to work
.75 mi/1.2 km home after work
1.25 mi/2 km to the community center
1.25 mi/2 km to home again
1.5 mi/2.4 km to meditation group meeting
1.5 mi/2.4 km to a favorite bar for a beer
2.25 mi/3.6 km home for the evening
In total today I rode a bike for more than 11 miles (11.25 mi/18.1 km) and it was just a matter of getting from place-to-place. How often, I wonder, do some wish they had the time to get to a gym and ride a stationary bike for 11 miles? And this is not to mention all the interesting things I saw while doing it. Yes, I realize that on this blog I am likely preaching to the choir, but I was thinking of this as I pedaled and coasted home tonight on a truly lovely summer evening. I’ll get off my little soapbox now.
Inspiration…
“If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.”
~Joseph Campbell
Inspiration. We all need it now and again. Some of us (me, for example) need it more now and again and again. Both the above quote and the below video have been posted on this blog before, but not in some time. You may have seen the video (it’s been floating around Facebook for a while), but if you haven’t–and even if you have–it’s worth watching (it’s only a little over a minute long).
Urban Simplicity.
What’s on your bar?
As this is an ad free blog I generally do not offer product reviews here. Believe-it-or-not I get propositioned for this relatively frequently, but I generally review products on other sites and publications, not this one (someone recently emailed me and said they really like the feel of my blog and wondered if I would post my thoughts–for payment–on their car-related item with links…ummm, did you even look through the blog, I emailed in return). No response.
But when I was contacted by someone at Bike2Power to review a handlebar mounted iPhone case I thought that I would do it for a couple reasons. The first is that, this being my blog and I do not have an editor or advertisement requirements, I could truly say what I felt about it. But also, and this is most important, is that this really does relate to this blog and hopefully it may interest some of the readers.
I was–and still am–excited to have received this item as I have thought about a phone mount for a while but haven’t got around to getting one. (I’d be interested in hearing if others use a phone mount, and if so, what apps you use). Anyhow, I’ve had my phone strapped to my handlebars for nearly a week now, and here are a few thoughts (I won’t bore you with too many details).
What I liked:
Super easy installation. It comes with its own Allen wrench and fits the handlebars as easily as any simple blinky light would…wrap the plastic around and tighten down. The mount, or at least most of it (more on that in a minute) remains on the bike, and the phone easily slides on or off with a quick-release lever.
The phone itself fits perfectly…nice and snug so it doesn’t rattle around when riding.
The mount swivels so you can use the phone vertically or horizontally.
The camera, touch screen, phone, and on-off switch matched perfectly to the phone and worked well. It’s fun using GPS and a speedometer app; I also used it to shoot a short video while riding through traffic.
A few things I don’t like about it.
In order to charge the phone it has to be removed from the case. There is a space to charge it within the case but it still needs to be opened up…if this were to be my “everyday case” I would not want to have to open or remove it from the case daily. Yes, this may be petty, but for me it’s a reality.
There is no access to volume controls.
The phone is listed as “weatherproof,” and I think this can be misleading. Weatherproof is too nebulous of a word and may give some a false sense of security. I did not submerge it in water(or even get it wet yet) but I did open the headphone access and blew threw it and air escaped around much of the seal (my view is that if air can escape water can get in). I am writing from, and ride year-round, in Buffalo, New York, where we are known for our sometimes harsh winters. This winter will be the test to see if it is truly weatherproof.
In conclusion:
Overall this is a nice case and works well. I am glad to have it, and have to admit that it is fun having my phone on my handlebars. But while I like it, it will likely not replace my regular case (which does not mount to my bike) for the simple reason that this case is a bit bulky for a pocket and the rear of the case has a portion of the mount permanently attached. But I guess the big question is, would I recommend this case for other cyclists? Yes, without doubt. For a handlebar-mounted case it certainly does what is expected and it is easy to attach and detach. As far as the weatherproof…check back six months from now…
To see this case at Bike2Power’s site, click here.
If you have this case or another (or if you’ve hacked your own handlebar contraption…which I’ve considered) I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Barbe à queue!
Food historians and etymologists generally claim two theories on the origin of the American barbecue. One is that it comes from the French barbe-a-queue, referring to cooking a whole animal on a spit “from beard to tail.” The other is that it’s derived from the Spanish barbacoa, a method they found indigenous Caribbeans using some five centuries ago.Whatever the origin there are likely as many different recipe and methods as there are cooks who make it. But truth be told the sauce is really easy to make, and it makes nearly anything taste great. The sauce featured in this post is a basic but universal one…it is pictured on shrimp in the above picture but I had it on chicken today as well. Anyhow, this is really easy to make (put all the ingredients in a pot and simmer them) and also really delicious. The sauce will keep for at least a week in the fridge and can be frozen for longer periods.
BBQ Sauce
Makes about 3 cups
2 cups ketchup
2/3 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup yellow mustard
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
Combine all the ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a simmer. Cook over low heat for 20-30 minutes. Stir frequently to avoid scorching.
Angels in the midst, and three things I saw while riding my bike this evening…
To be closer to God, be closer to people.
~Kahlil Gibran
This evening’s weather was almost autumnal…cool, windy, and large rolling clouds. And for whatever reason, I found myself somewhat stressed today (yes, even on my day off that crazy mind of mine never stops reeling). Stress, for me, often morphs into depression or at least a case of melancholia, which is how I felt earlier. So as a remedy I thought I’d ride down to the waterfront and take a few photos, both of which–photography and physical exercise–are often good remedies for this. Once there, I purchased a beer and set up my tripod at water’s edge; the day’s light was just beginning to fade. It was not crowded as it often is, likely because of the weather. And I’m not sure what it is about a guy with a camera, and specifically a guy with a camera on a tripod, that makes people talk to him, but it happens all the time to me. Anyhow my point is during the hour or hour-and-a-half that I spent down there sipping beer and taking photos numerous people came up and talked with me, a few at length. And it felt good, that’s the only way to explain it. Maybe it was the awesomeness of the weather conditions in front of us, maybe not, but I felt a deep connection to each soul to which I interacted…complete strangers discussing commonplace things. Anyhow, it was this connection I believe that really changed my mood…shifted it. We are all in fact–I also believe–angels in the midst of this thing we call life. And now is the time that we happen to be on this planet. We should make the best of the time we have…
Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#504)
Fishing for night swimmers…and a few photos of the international border in my backyard
If you’ve been to this blog before you know that I am typing from Buffalo, NY. And sometimes I forget that there is an international border and another country in my backyard (the awesome country of Canada). A mere eight minute bike ride from my house brings me to Broderick Park, which leads to Bird Island Pier (a slim walkway–a break wall–that separates the very beginnings of the Erie Canal with the Niagara River at the mouth of Lake Erie (click here to see how the pier’s thin line juts out into the lake, and here to see a photo of it). I hadn’t been down there in a while, and when I arrived I questioned why it had been so long. Anyhow, I had it in my head to take a few photos of the Peace Bridge at dusk so I pedaled down. And as I pedaled and coasted down the pier (which was largely deserted because it being evening) I was struck by it’s beauty. But then, to my dismay, as I approached the undercarriage of the bridge I could see that there was a chain-link fence blocking further passage because of repairs (the entire length of the pier is at least a mile into the water). You can see the distance in the photos…the top photo I was at the far end of the pier (the restricted section), whereas the below photos I was just beneath the bridge. Anyhow, as I was standing there slightly saddened because I couldn’t (or at least thought I couldn’t) travel any further down the pier I saw someone approaching on a bicycle, and I could see they had fishing gear attached to their bike. It was a Burmese man about my age (Buffalo has a rather substantial Burmese population). We chatted a bit; he saw my camera gear and I noticed his fishing gear. I told him how I wanted to go to the end of the pier to take photos. No problem, he said, that’s where I fish for night swimmers; some fish only come out at night, he added. He then showed me (and helped me) to hold my bike at a horizontal angle to fit between the railings of the pier, and “walk it” along the stones (which was a rather steep embankment) for about 50 feet, and then repeat the procedure to re-enter the pier. We walked along the canal side, which I’m sure was a steep drop off in the water, and at one point as we were walking he turns to me and says, don’t drop your bike, you won’t get it back. After we reestablished ourselves on the “forbidden side” of the pier he pedaled off while I set up my tripod; I never saw him again. It was so tranquil. On my way back I saw two cranes and many dozen geese (who nearly refused to get out of my path). I have to say I was a bit worried about lifting my somewhat heavy cargo bike through the railing by myself but I managed (I had the Cargo-T, not the Yuba). I shot a couple dozen photos as I watched the sun set on the river while I wondered why I didn’t come here more often. Click any photo for a larger view.
Fortune Cookie Philosophy
More Fortune Cookie Philosophies.
Urban Simplicity.
The view from my handlebars and a surprise I could have stepped on…
I took the above photo on my way home from work late afternoon/early evening today. The weather could not have been more idyllic. After the last couple weeks of an oppressive heatwave this weather is truly welcomed (cool temps and low humidity). And as I arrived home today I noticed a small bright red berry peeking out from under a plant in my front yard right next to the sidewalk. The strawberries have not been doing too well this year so I haven’t looked at them too frequently…so you can imagine my surprise when I lifted the leaves and saw these. Nice. Growing food is way more fun and tasty than growing grass (I’m jus’ sayin’).
Mediterranean Chickpea Burgers (yum!)
Crispy and super flavorful. So yes, these are as delicious as they look. They are really easy to make, and can be frozen, too. Eat them on a sandwich, place them on a salad, or nibble them straight from the pan…you won’t be sorry if you make this recipe. For a southwestern black bean-cheddar version of these burgers, click here.
Mediterranean Chickpea Burgers (with sun-dried tomatoes, feta, and rosemary)
Makes 10 (4 ounce) burgers
2 (15 ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 eggs
¼ cup hot pepper sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons turmeric
1 teaspoon sea salt
6-8 sun dried tomatoes, minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
1 small bunch Italian parsley, chopped
½ small onion, minced
½ red bell pepper, minced
1 cup crumbled feta (3-4 ounces)
1 cup bread crumbs (plus extra for dusting)
Olive oil for cooking
Place half of the chickpeas in a food processor and pulse for just a few seconds, until coarse but slightly mashed; transfer these beans to a large bowl. Add the remaining beans to the food processor along with the eggs, hot pepper sauce, garlic, smoked paprika, turmeric, and sea salt; process until very smooth, then add this mixture to the bowl with the coarse beans. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, rosemary, parsley, onion, and bell pepper to the bowl also. Mix everything thoroughly, then add the cheese and bread crumbs and mix again. Divide the mix into ten balls and shape into burgers, transferring them to platters or a baking sheet that is lightly dusted with breadcrumbs. Heat a large heavy skillet with 1/8th inch olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook the burgers for about 10 minutes, turning them as necessary, or until golden, crispy, and cooked throughout. Transfer to absorbent paper before serving.
Yes, there are not enough [sic]…
I was in Amsterdam only once, and it was many years ago (egad, 25 to be exact). It was on my first and longest visit to Europe; I went with a friend with open-ended return tickets (is one still allowed to do this today?) and nothing but what we could carry on our backs. There were no iPhones, tablets, DSLR cameras, etc., etc. at the time. Just us, our clothes in our back packs, a few books, and 35mm cameras. Even then I was taken by not only the beauty of the city but also by the way most everyone got around on bikes. And I actually remember the day I took the above photo. It was an alley in the heart of the city (don’t ask me where) and as we passed I was taken by it’s tranquility.
Anyhow, I recently came across this story at Treehugger regarding this story in the NY Times which comments on how there are too many bikes in Amsterdam. It’s interesting in that the NY Times article appears in the very renaissance of bikes in its very city. The below video is in response to the NY Times article.
Five (or six) Quotes from Helen Thomas
August 4, 1920 – July 20, 201
To read Ms. Thomas’ obituary at the New York Times, click here.
“You don’t spread democracy with a barrel of a gun.”
“George W. Bush is the worst President in all of American history.”
“I’m a liberal, I was born a liberal, and I will be a liberal till the day I die.”
“It should be mandatory that every president would read the Constitution. Too many swear to uphold the Constitution and then make end runs around it.”
“I don’t think a tough question is disrespectful.”
“But when will our leaders learn – war is not the answer.”
The view from my handlebars, 7.22.13
Tacos Multiculturales!
Okay. So first I have to say this…these tacos were freaking delicious (if I do say so myself). But what makes them so interesting are the ingredients; the finished recipe is like the United Nations on a plate. The main component, or at least one of the main components, is the chicken. It’s a variation of the classic Mexican dish, carnitas, which is usually made with pork. The two variations are that I used chicken thigh meat (which I suppose would make these pollitas) and rather than Mexican seasoning I used Lebanese seven-spice blend (and a teaspoon of turmeric for color). Now this in itself may have stopped you in your tracks…what, you may ask?…Lebanese tacos? Yup, it’s true, there is a specific taco in Mexico that has been influence by Lebanese immigrants there (click here or here to read about it). The other unique item is kimchi, or Korean sauerkraut. Okay, so now you’re probably saying, what?…this guy is really nuts. But I’m telling you this is a really delicious flavor combination. And besides, Korean tacos are all the rage these days (click here). In place of sour cream I used plain yogurt…much healthier for you and the sour flavor added another dimension. And for the spiciness (as this latest batch of kimchi isn’t that spicy) I used–rather than the traditional southwest or Mexican hot sauce–the delicious Thai Sriracha. There’s also diced tomato, shredded lettuce, cheddar, white and green onion, and shredded carrot. Combined, yes, this may seem really complex, but individually each component is really easy to make. These ingredients are just suggestions, of course. Like most foods, the basic recipe is just a guide…
For a (grilled) chicken shawarma recipe, click here.
For a Lebanese seven-spice recipe, click here.
For a carnitas recipe (pollitas) recipe, click here.
For kimchi and homemade yogurt recipes, click here.
For a homemade tortilla recipe, click here.
Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#503), a couple comments, and a few things I saw along the way…
On the bike…a canvas bag containing an extra change of clothes (dry clothes in the event of rain, but it didn’t rain). A large plastic cooler full of prepared food and ice.
I was on my way to my sister’s house for my nephew’s graduation party today. She lives just past the city line in a first-ring suburb; Kenmore, NY, which is (I believe) our area’s oldest suburb. From door-to-door it is roughly about 8 miles/12.8km each way. For a split second I thought about reserving a car share (of which I am still a member but rarely use), then I came to my senses and remembered that it would be a really lovely ride (and it was). So I strapped the cooler full of ice and food on the back, stuffed a pocket camera in my pocket and rode the bike instead. Each way took just under 40 minutes, which includes time to snap some photos. And to reiterate what I’ve said in previous posts (many times…yes, I know), I wouldn’t have seen all these things (at least not in the same light) if viewing them from a car window (and I certainly wouldn’t have been able to take a shortcut through Delaware Park, which is represented in the bottom three photos). And besides, 16 mile/25.7km round trip on a heavy cargo bike…I didn’t have to go to the health club today. I’ll get off my little soapbox now.
Cool as a cucumber (and avocado) soup recipe…
This soup is really delicious and really easy to make. I know…I say that all the time, right? Well, all you have to do is put the ingredients in a blender and puree them. Seriously. Easy, delicious, and healthy…what’s not to like. This is also a great recipe for the crazy heatwave that has gripped much of the country. I hope you try this…you’ll be glad you did.
Chilled Cucumber-Avocado Soup
Makes 6-8 cups
1 English cucumber, seeds removed
1 ripe avocado, skin and pit removed
¼ small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic
2 cups plain Greek yogurt
2 cups orange juice
2 teaspoons sea salt
½ teaspoon crushed hot pepper (optional)
Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and process until very smooth.
Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#502)
Two boxes containing salads and other prepared foods. A camera bag containing a camera, charger, and an extra lens. A small book bag containing (not surprisingly) a couple books.
Urban Simplicity.
Urban Simplicty 