Ride a Bicycle, circa 1919

I came across this and thought it was interesting enough to share; it’s from 1919. What I found really interesting is what the advert says on the left-hand side of the page, about halfway down (click the image; you may still need to enlarge it to read it). It states, “Ride a Bicycle. Physical fitness will safeguard the Peace, Health, and Prosperity of our Nation. The Bicycle is a health-builder, a time and money saver.” Did I mention that this ad is nearly 100 years old. Hmm…

R.I.P. Val Kleitz

 Image found here.
I just learned that cargo biker Val Kleitz has passed away earlier this month at the young age of 51. I did not know Val, nor have I ever met him, but I felt like I knew him. I had seen many postings about him on the Internet in previous years and have watched the below video on more than one occasion. If you have not seen the video I encourage you to watch it. I love when he discusses the reasons he rides and also–about half-way into the video–where he takes the interviewer on a tour of his customized long-tail cargo bike. Rest in peace friend, you’ve ridden enough.
To read a short bio about Val at Momentum Magazine, click here.

R.I.P. Val Kleitz

 Image found here.
I just learned that cargo biker Val Kleitz has passed away earlier this month at the young age of 51. I did not know Val, nor have I ever met him, but I felt like I knew him. I had seen many postings about him on the Internet in previous years and have watched the below video on more than one occasion. If you have not seen the video I encourage you to watch it. I love when he discusses the reasons he rides and also–about half-way into the video–where he takes the interviewer on a tour of his customized long-tail cargo bike. Rest in peace friend, you’ve ridden enough.
To read a short bio about Val at Momentum Magazine, click here.

Tuscan-Style White Bean Soup

This full-flavored and nutritious soup is so easy to make and hearty enough to be a full meal (with some good bread, of course). In fact, it is so hearty if you add pasta to it (especially ditalini) and some Parmesan cheese you’ll have a sort of Pasta e Fagioli. Here it is in pictures; a recipe follows.

Tuscan-Style White Bean Soup
Makes about 6 quarts
1 ½ pounds dried white beans
3 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup diced ham
1 red pepper diced
1 small onion, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon crushed hot pepper
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
4 tomatoes, diced
4 quarts chicken broth
Soak the beans in water overnight, or at least 1 hour. Heat the olive oil in a heavy pot and sauté the ham, pepper, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, hot pepper, fennel, and rosemary for about five minutes. Add the beans, salt, black pepper, tomatoes and broth. Bring the soup to a boil then lower it to a simmer. Cook the beans for about 90 minutes, or until the beans are very tender. If too much liquid evaporates, add more stock or water as needed.

Tuscan-Style White Bean Soup

This full-flavored and nutritious soup is so easy to make and hearty enough to be a full meal (with some good bread, of course). In fact, it is so hearty if you add pasta to it (especially ditalini) and some Parmesan cheese you’ll have a sort of Pasta e Fagioli. Here it is in pictures; a recipe follows.

Tuscan-Style White Bean Soup
Makes about 6 quarts
1 ½ pounds dried white beans
3 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup diced ham
1 red pepper diced
1 small onion, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon crushed hot pepper
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
4 tomatoes, diced
4 quarts chicken broth
Soak the beans in water overnight, or at least 1 hour. Heat the olive oil in a heavy pot and sauté the ham, pepper, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, hot pepper, fennel, and rosemary for about five minutes. Add the beans, salt, black pepper, tomatoes and broth. Bring the soup to a boil then lower it to a simmer. Cook the beans for about 90 minutes, or until the beans are very tender. If too much liquid evaporates, add more stock or water as needed.

Employee Meal 24 August 2011, Pâté de Campagne

Pâté de Campagne translates from the French as “Country Paste.” How’s that for demystifying something that sounds overly fancy or complicated. This is simple to make and can be eaten cold as an appetizer (sliced thin and served with toast points, gherkins, onion, and mustard) or sauteed for a hot sandwich. I don’t have a typed recipe of my own for this, but this one looks pretty good. In the one pictured above we studded it with diced ham, pistachios, and green peppercorns (…mmm). A couple things: Make sure you keep all of the ingredients cold as you assemble it and go a little lighter on the spice mixture than this recipe recommends. And remember if you call it by the French name your friends will think you are a fancy gourmet cook (but you probably already are).

Employee Meal 24 August 2011, Pâté de Campagne

Pâté de Campagne translates from the French as “Country Paste.” How’s that for demystifying something that sounds overly fancy or complicated. This is simple to make and can be eaten cold as an appetizer (sliced thin and served with toast points, gherkins, onion, and mustard) or sauteed for a hot sandwich. I don’t have a typed recipe of my own for this, but this one looks pretty good. In the one pictured above we studded it with diced ham, pistachios, and green peppercorns (…mmm). A couple things: Make sure you keep all of the ingredients cold as you assemble it and go a little lighter on the spice mixture than this recipe recommends. And remember if you call it by the French name your friends will think you are a fancy gourmet cook (but you probably already are).

Five Quotes from Simone Weil

Simone Weil
3 February 1909 – 24 August 1943
To read more about Simone Weil, click here and here.

“Imagination and fiction make up more than three quarters of our real life.”

“It is not the cause for which men took up arms that makes a victory more just or less, it is the order that is established when arms have been laid down.”  

“A hurtful act is the transference to others of the degradation which we bear in ourselves.”

“Petroleum is a more likely cause of international conflict than wheat.”

“I can, therefore I am.”  

Five Quotes from Simone Weil

Simone Weil
3 February 1909 – 24 August 1943
To read more about Simone Weil, click here and here.

“Imagination and fiction make up more than three quarters of our real life.”

“It is not the cause for which men took up arms that makes a victory more just or less, it is the order that is established when arms have been laid down.”  

“A hurtful act is the transference to others of the degradation which we bear in ourselves.”

“Petroleum is a more likely cause of international conflict than wheat.”

“I can, therefore I am.”  

Interesting old Bicycle Adverts

I enjoy old advertisements…it gives a glimpse of life during certain periods, and I particularly like old bicycle adverts (these two were found here…there’s many more if you’re interested). What I found interesting about these two–despite their odd titles–was their subject matter…both are promoting the bicycle as a healthy way to travel; that they are good for you on many levels…including your body. And these are from 1892 and 1893. Both, I feel are just as relevant today as they were then (though I’m still not so sure about their titles for contemporary culture), but this is especially true for the bottom one. With today’s energy issues, global warming, and the fact that there are so any overweight people in the world today–especially in the good ol’ U.S. of A–it seems like there should be an ad promoting bicycle’s benefits on every corner and in every magazine. Instead, we get commercials for new cars every five minutes on prime time television. Something is wrong. To read the bottom advert click it for a larger view; I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Interesting old Bicycle Adverts

I enjoy old advertisements…it gives a glimpse of life during certain periods, and I particularly like old bicycle adverts (these two were found here…there’s many more if you’re interested). What I found interesting about these two–despite their odd titles–was their subject matter…both are promoting the bicycle as a healthy way to travel; that they are good for you on many levels…including your body. And these are from 1892 and 1893. Both, I feel are just as relevant today as they were then (though I’m still not so sure about their titles for contemporary culture), but this is especially true for the bottom one. With today’s energy issues, global warming, and the fact that there are so any overweight people in the world today–especially in the good ol’ U.S. of A–it seems like there should be an ad promoting bicycle’s benefits on every corner and in every magazine. Instead, we get commercials for new cars every five minutes on prime time television. Something is wrong. To read the bottom advert click it for a larger view; I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Red Sky at Night

I just snapped this photo from my front porch a few minutes ago. Beautiful, isn’t it?  But I’m still shaking a little…my nerves are frazzled. Not because of the photo or beautiful sky of course, but because of what happened a little while ago.

I was on my way home from the local pizzeria with a full-sized spinach pie on the front rack of the Mundo; my son had just phoned and said he would be home soon. It was perfect timing. Well, almost.

I was almost home; I was on my street. My street has a slight incline and there was no wind so I was going pretty fast; leisurely but still at a good clip, maybe 12mph/19kph (I’m guessing). And I was thinking how the front rack holds a pizza perfectly. Just as I thought that a local kid (teenager) on a bike flies out from between two parked cars without looking. He pulled out maybe 5 feet in front of me and turned in my direction. It happened so fast all I could do was yell out WHAAA!! Then…crunch. It was a direct hit; I’m not sure if I even had time to hit the brakes.

Between the sound of the crash and my yell neighbors came running. The front rack on the Mundo was pushed aside. The kid fell off his bike. I have a small bump and cut on the bony side of my knee. Surprisingly no one, or the bikes–or the pizza–were seriously injured. It was, to say the least, pretty damned scary.

So now I sit here typing these words with a full belly and a glass of wine at my side thinking about that beautiful sky and how lucky I am (and the kid is) not just today but everyday. I may not have everything I want…but I surely have everything that I need. And for that  am truly thankful. Now if only I could remember this every minute of every day of my life.

This morning I read a great quote from Robert Frost and it seems more apre pos than ever, maybe even a premonition.

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
Robert Frost

Red Sky at Night

I just snapped this photo from my front porch a few minutes ago. Beautiful, isn’t it?  But I’m still shaking a little…my nerves are frazzled. Not because of the photo or beautiful sky of course, but because of what happened a little while ago.

I was on my way home from the local pizzeria with a full-sized spinach pie on the front rack of the Mundo; my son had just phoned and said he would be home soon. It was perfect timing. Well, almost.

I was almost home; I was on my street. My street has a slight incline and there was no wind so I was going pretty fast; leisurely but still at a good clip, maybe 12mph/19kph (I’m guessing). And I was thinking how the front rack holds a pizza perfectly. Just as I thought that a local kid (teenager) on a bike flies out from between two parked cars without looking. He pulled out maybe 5 feet in front of me and turned in my direction. It happened so fast all I could do was yell out WHAAA!! Then…crunch. It was a direct hit; I’m not sure if I even had time to hit the brakes.

Between the sound of the crash and my yell neighbors came running. The front rack on the Mundo was pushed aside. The kid fell off his bike. I have a small bump and cut on the bony side of my knee. Surprisingly no one, or the bikes–or the pizza–were seriously injured. It was, to say the least, pretty damned scary.

So now I sit here typing these words with a full belly and a glass of wine at my side thinking about that beautiful sky and how lucky I am (and the kid is) not just today but everyday. I may not have everything I want…but I surely have everything that I need. And for that  am truly thankful. Now if only I could remember this every minute of every day of my life.

This morning I read a great quote from Robert Frost and it seems more apre pos than ever, maybe even a premonition.

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
Robert Frost

The Yuba Mundo (four generations)

This post is for all the Mundo riders out there (and other velophiles who are interested in cargo bikes). First I have to ask a silly question…what’s a good word for us; people who ride Mundo cargo bikes? Bicyclists is not specific enough. Mundonians? Yubonians? Yubites? Mundoners? Any, all, or none, I suppose. Sometimes my mind goes off on tangents. Anyhow, next is what I really wanted to post about.

As many of you know the new v4 Mundo is out. I have to say that it is a bit exciting to me (to see the new model) but also a little saddening (because the one I own is no “longer top of the line”).  I was in NYC this passed weekend and stopped into Hudson Urban Bicycles (click here and here) to check out their cargo and Dutch bikes. As I walked in one of the first bikes I see is a brand new v4 Mundo leaning against the wall. I have to say it looks pretty nice. It was a matte black color–like the one I own–so it was easy to see the differences that may look slight at first but really are significant.

It seems with each version they lighten up the frame a bit. You can see by the images above the slight differences (v1 on the top descending to v4). Click the image for a much larger view. I was not able to test ride it (it was pouring rain) but I did notice that it felt much lighter than mine when I lifted it. The mechanic who was working on a bike nearby didn’t know how much it weighed either but said it rode really nice (that’s didn’t surprise me–the nice ride–I told responded).

I originally owned a v1 (click here to see it). And while I loved the bike I also thought it drove like a big cushy tank. When I skipped a generation and purchased the v3–that I currently own–I was, and still am, amazed at how nice it rides…just like an ordinary bike. Anyhow, the new v4 has a new sleek look…the rear frame is rearranged a bit, a couple bars are removed, and the entire rear area seems a bit thinner, more refined.

I have no plans of selling my current one to purchase the new version but I’d be stretching the truth if I didn’t admit that I was ogling over it when I saw it in the shop (I am, though, in the very early stages of considering another “everyday bike,” possibly something Dutch, though I’m not sure…this is what drew me to a few bike shops in NYC).

Anyhow, it still makes me proud to be a Mundo owner. I’m glad to see the good people at Mundo progressing and refining the bike. I’d be interested in hearing from other Mundo riders or longtailers to see what you thought of the new version, and also what are some of the versions/bikes you ride. Is anyone considering this new one?

The Yuba Mundo (four generations)

This post is for all the Mundo riders out there (and other velophiles who are interested in cargo bikes). First I have to ask a silly question…what’s a good word for us; people who ride Mundo cargo bikes? Bicyclists is not specific enough. Mundonians? Yubonians? Yubites? Mundoners? Any, all, or none, I suppose. Sometimes my mind goes off on tangents. Anyhow, next is what I really wanted to post about.

As many of you know the new v4 Mundo is out. I have to say that it is a bit exciting to me (to see the new model) but also a little saddening (because the one I own is no “longer top of the line”).  I was in NYC this passed weekend and stopped into Hudson Urban Bicycles (click here and here) to check out their cargo and Dutch bikes. As I walked in one of the first bikes I see is a brand new v4 Mundo leaning against the wall. I have to say it looks pretty nice. It was a matte black color–like the one I own–so it was easy to see the differences that may look slight at first but really are significant.

It seems with each version they lighten up the frame a bit. You can see by the images above the slight differences (v1 on the top descending to v4). Click the image for a much larger view. I was not able to test ride it (it was pouring rain) but I did notice that it felt much lighter than mine when I lifted it. The mechanic who was working on a bike nearby didn’t know how much it weighed either but said it rode really nice (that’s didn’t surprise me–the nice ride–I told responded).

I originally owned a v1 (click here to see it). And while I loved the bike I also thought it drove like a big cushy tank. When I skipped a generation and purchased the v3–that I currently own–I was, and still am, amazed at how nice it rides…just like an ordinary bike. Anyhow, the new v4 has a new sleek look…the rear frame is rearranged a bit, a couple bars are removed, and the entire rear area seems a bit thinner, more refined.

I have no plans of selling my current one to purchase the new version but I’d be stretching the truth if I didn’t admit that I was ogling over it when I saw it in the shop (I am, though, in the very early stages of considering another “everyday bike,” possibly something Dutch, though I’m not sure…this is what drew me to a few bike shops in NYC).

Anyhow, it still makes me proud to be a Mundo owner. I’m glad to see the good people at Mundo progressing and refining the bike. I’d be interested in hearing from other Mundo riders or longtailers to see what you thought of the new version, and also what are some of the versions/bikes you ride. Is anyone considering this new one?