Random Thoughts On Cooking, Bike Riding, and The Sacred Journey of Everyday Life
I came across these two old school cruisers parked a block apart, and both were locked to parking meters. They (the owners) must be together (maybe they had a spat)…what are the odds. Nice old bikes (I bet they weigh almost as much as a Mundo); click it for a larger view.
The above picture is a closeup of the front tire on my Mundo. Yup…looks like I’m about to have a blow out. I noticed it as I was putting a little air in the tires today. By the looks of it, it looks as if I swiped the tire against something (note the other marks on each side of the protruding tube), though I don’t remember doing so. Who knows how long I’ve been ridding around like this. Anyhow, what was uncertain today was if I was going to make it to-and-fro without a flat. I did. I had planned on doing a bunch of errands today and thought about riding another bike, but the Mundo was required to carry things. I noticed it just before I left for my errands so I thought I’d ride to the only bike shop that I know is open on Sunday and within riding distance…they didn’t have a tire of the same size in stock (this surprised me). The current tires–those that came on the bike–are 2.0 wide; I plan on staying with that width. At this point I was about 2 miles (3.2km) from home and didn’t want to be stranded with a big heavy bike with a flat, so I rode home. But still determined to do my errands and not use my truck, I loaded a bag of tools, a spare inner tube, a hand pump, and an old tire onto the bike. The worst case scenario, I thought, would be that I did get a flat and had to change it on the spot. It’s interesting in that every time I hit a bump in the road I expected to hear the hissing sound of a tire deflating…but it never happened. I rode probably about 10 miles (16km) and did all of my errands. I’ve been thinking about getting new tire for the Mundo for a few months now (originally posted about it here) but now there’s no time left to procrastinate. I’ll head over to my favorite bike shop tomorrow on my lunch break and see if they have any suitable tires in stock. If not I’ll probably order these tires. I’d be interested to here from other Mundo, Xtra, and other cargo riders out there. In the previous post some of you mentioned the the Schwalbe Marathon but there are numerous from which to choose. Do any of you use these in particular? Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.
The above picture is a closeup of the front tire on my Mundo. Yup…looks like I’m about to have a blow out. I noticed it as I was putting a little air in the tires today. By the looks of it, it looks as if I swiped the tire against something (note the other marks on each side of the protruding tube), though I don’t remember doing so. Who knows how long I’ve been ridding around like this. Anyhow, what was uncertain today was if I was going to make it to-and-fro without a flat. I did. I had planned on doing a bunch of errands today and thought about riding another bike, but the Mundo was required to carry things. I noticed it just before I left for my errands so I thought I’d ride to the only bike shop that I know is open on Sunday and within riding distance…they didn’t have a tire of the same size in stock (this surprised me). The current tires–those that came on the bike–are 2.0 wide; I plan on staying with that width. At this point I was about 2 miles (3.2km) from home and didn’t want to be stranded with a big heavy bike with a flat, so I rode home. But still determined to do my errands and not use my truck, I loaded a bag of tools, a spare inner tube, a hand pump, and an old tire onto the bike. The worst case scenario, I thought, would be that I did get a flat and had to change it on the spot. It’s interesting in that every time I hit a bump in the road I expected to hear the hissing sound of a tire deflating…but it never happened. I rode probably about 10 miles (16km) and did all of my errands. I’ve been thinking about getting new tire for the Mundo for a few months now (originally posted about it here) but now there’s no time left to procrastinate. I’ll head over to my favorite bike shop tomorrow on my lunch break and see if they have any suitable tires in stock. If not I’ll probably order these tires. I’d be interested to here from other Mundo, Xtra, and other cargo riders out there. In the previous post some of you mentioned the the Schwalbe Marathon but there are numerous from which to choose. Do any of you use these in particular? Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.
I took this photo while on holiday in Seattle with my son recently…it was the slogan in the window of a new condo across from our hotel. I originally took the photo because I liked the phrase–I do believe change is good and that it is also good to challenge yourself and the status quo–but I didn’t anticipate my reflection in the picture…maybe it’s a premonition of change to come.
I took this photo while on holiday in Seattle with my son recently…it was the slogan in the window of a new condo across from our hotel. I originally took the photo because I liked the phrase–I do believe change is good and that it is also good to challenge yourself and the status quo–but I didn’t anticipate my reflection in the picture…maybe it’s a premonition of change to come.
By now regular readers of this blog have probably figured that I enjoy taking photos; I have since I’ve been a teen. I gave it up for a few years–for various reasons–but with the ease of digital cameras today I’d be hard pressed to find out why a person wouldn’t want to take pictures…take a bunch, delete what you don’t want and save what you do; no developing necessary. And you don’t need a fancy or expensive camera to take good photos either, mostly you just have to pay attention to the natural light. While I am planning on investing in a better one, all of the pictures you see on this blog (and on my Facebook page) were taken with an inexpensive $99 camera. Anyhow, here’s a few pics I snapped just after it rained this morning and just before I left the house for work. Click it for a larger view.
By now regular readers of this blog have probably figured that I enjoy taking photos; I have since I’ve been a teen. I gave it up for a few years–for various reasons–but with the ease of digital cameras today I’d be hard pressed to find out why a person wouldn’t want to take pictures…take a bunch, delete what you don’t want and save what you do; no developing necessary. And you don’t need a fancy or expensive camera to take good photos either, mostly you just have to pay attention to the natural light. While I am planning on investing in a better one, all of the pictures you see on this blog (and on my Facebook page) were taken with an inexpensive $99 camera. Anyhow, here’s a few pics I snapped just after it rained this morning and just before I left the house for work. Click it for a larger view.
Two new tires and a new inner tube. There’s something really satisfying to me when a bike carries not only the rider but also it’s own new parts (even on a small bike).
Two new tires and a new inner tube. There’s something really satisfying to me when a bike carries not only the rider but also it’s own new parts (even on a small bike).
No I am not turning into a vampire, I’m referring to the first bite of tomatoes from my garden this year. It’s sort of a ritual of mine to eat the first tomato of the season straight from the vine, which I did tonight (the one in the foreground). Though I have a fair amount of tomatoes on the plants, the plants themselves aren’t doing so well this year. Maybe I need to fertilize the soil next year. Anyhow, I had a delicious tomato, cucumber, onion, and basil sandwich for dinner tonight (on whole wheat bread and slathered with mayonnaise). It was delicious and extra satisfying knowing that most–but not all–of the ingredients grew a few feet from where they were consumed. For tomato recipes, click here.
No I am not turning into a vampire, I’m referring to the first bite of tomatoes from my garden this year. It’s sort of a ritual of mine to eat the first tomato of the season straight from the vine, which I did tonight (the one in the foreground). Though I have a fair amount of tomatoes on the plants, the plants themselves aren’t doing so well this year. Maybe I need to fertilize the soil next year. Anyhow, I had a delicious tomato, cucumber, onion, and basil sandwich for dinner tonight (on whole wheat bread and slathered with mayonnaise). It was delicious and extra satisfying knowing that most–but not all–of the ingredients grew a few feet from where they were consumed. For tomato recipes, click here.
I am an urban cyclist not only because I think it’s fun (and saves money, the environment, etc.) but also because it makes the most sense…indeed it is often quicker–and less stressful–to get from point A to point B by bike in the city. Anyhow, with that in mind, here’s a couple short videos. Two different topics and from two different areas of the US; one is filmed in NYC and the other in San Fransisco. If you are a cyclist, and I know many of the readers of this blog are, or even if you are not, you will probably find these interesting. They were embedded from here and here.
I am an urban cyclist not only because I think it’s fun (and saves money, the environment, etc.) but also because it makes the most sense…indeed it is often quicker–and less stressful–to get from point A to point B by bike in the city. Anyhow, with that in mind, here’s a couple short videos. Two different topics and from two different areas of the US; one is filmed in NYC and the other in San Fransisco. If you are a cyclist, and I know many of the readers of this blog are, or even if you are not, you will probably find these interesting. They were embedded from here and here.
A canvas book bag containing various books and writing implements, 4lbs of raw whole wheat bread dough, a large bunch of fresh dill and oregano (from my garden), a large munch of cilantro/coriander from a neighbors garden, and a 10lb. pork leg (fresh ham) from T-Meadow Farm (thanks Christa).
A canvas book bag containing various books and writing implements, 4lbs of raw whole wheat bread dough, a large bunch of fresh dill and oregano (from my garden), a large munch of cilantro/coriander from a neighbors garden, and a 10lb. pork leg (fresh ham) from T-Meadow Farm (thanks Christa).
Urban Simplicty