Tag Archives: Utility Bike

Bicycles Are Useful In Many Ways

Sure bikes can move a person (or persons) from one place to another using their own power, and yes they can carry things, but they can also do other stuff…like power a knife grinder. The above photo and short video below are of an African fellow who not only powers a bike-powered knife grinder (ofContinue reading “Bicycles Are Useful In Many Ways”

A Short Talk with Val Kleitz

This is a short talk with Val Kleitz, veteran cargo biker and all around bicycle advocate. The video is only a few minutes long (and probably dated by a few years) but it is truly inspiring. He talks not only about the importance of the (cargo) bike, but also specifics about his. Just another exampleContinue reading “A Short Talk with Val Kleitz”

Practical Pedal in Buffalo

In the event that you haven’t come across it yet, there’s an interesting and quirky little quarterly paper called The Practical Pedal, which as you may have guessed is about practical bicycling (Click here for their website). There’s another paper devoted to urban cycling called Momentum (which is a little larger and has more content,Continue reading “Practical Pedal in Buffalo”

Bikes With Practicality in Mind

I love this first photo below…when I was a teenager a friend and I actually had a dream to build something like that (though it does sort of resemble a coffin). Click on the picture for a larger view to read the text. The next photo of the bike with a grill on it isContinue reading “Bikes With Practicality in Mind”

Biking Toronto

Yesterday I went up to Toronto for a quick 24 hour sojourn. I do this a couple times a year simply for a change of pace; I’ll spend my day/evening alternating between bookstores, cafes, and nightclubs. It’s such an easy trip…under two hours if traffic on the Peace Bridge and the QEW cooperates. I’ve doneContinue reading “Biking Toronto”

NYC Longtail

A friend sent this picture to me from NYC (Thanks Suzy)…she spotted it on Fourth Street in the West Village…looks like it’s a xtracycle conversion. My hope is that longtails will become more common place…they really are the most practical way to move things in an urban environment.

The Usefulness of Long Tail Bikes

Long tail bikes (or, bikes with extended rear cargo areas) are becoming increasingly popular these days…and rightly so…the load capacity is truly amazing. Click here to see reviews of some of the bikes that are currently available. If you’ve read this blog before, or even if it is your first time, you know that IContinue reading “The Usefulness of Long Tail Bikes”

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#60)

Two solid cement pink flamingos. (Yup…these babies are solid cement…as if the plastic ones aren’t tacky enough…saw them at the curb tonight in someone’s trash and couldn’t pass them up…they now sit proudly amongst my tomato and pepper plants in the front yard.)

First Bite

Because of all the rain this year my garden(s) are suffering…things are stilted and running late. By this time of the year my tomato plants are usually overflowing with crimson orbs…at present I have only two…well, one now. Plenty of green tomatoes, but only two (nearly) ripe ones. Anyhow, as is my tradition, I pluckedContinue reading “First Bite”

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#39)

24 Mason jars.An 80 foot garden hose.A gym bag full of wet clothes.3 rolls of paper towels. I always enjoy the comments and looks I get riding this bike, especially when it’s loaded…but I received one of the best comments today while riding down trendy Elmwood Avenue during peak rush hour. It was from aContinue reading “Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#39)”

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#38)

A wooden box containing small tools, cleaning supplies, printer ink, and other miscellaneous items.A new pair of shoes.A new shirt.A parsley plant (on front rack).Two tomato cages (barely visible on lower right sidebar…obscured by the corn).