Bicycle Daydreams

 

single speed bike tour

"Yes, you might have to get off and walk up a few hills, but that's hardly a tragedy, in fact sometimes it can be a nice change of pace! If you are in a hurry, why are you on a bicycle?" ~Sheldon Brown

This quote helped to inspire our single speed bike journey from Philly to Easton, PA last weekend.

There were frustrations at first with the heat, the hills, the uncertainty of where we would end up (we were trying to make it to the Delaware Water Gap by nightfall).

But then!

We couldn't escape the beauty all around. The rolling country hills, the rhythm we fell into and the simple freedom of relying on nothing but our legs and these amazing, quiet, lovely bicycles.

.

Can't wait to go from coast to coast!

To get your "tour" on check out Adventure Cycling for great maps and tips!

dad on bike

no, that's not lance armstrong--it's richard hirschler!

while i support dads on bikes, i also support helmet use--so please watch the following (things get astonishingly good at 00:49):

hooray!

city art: function and splendor

some sweet, generous soul has taken the time to create this lovely piece of knitted artwork.

it adorns a bike rack by Reading Terminal Market and is not only joy-inducing, but helps protect bicycles from scratches!

thanks, lovely artist!!

tweedledee

on saturday, Jon and I attended the 2nd semi-annual Philadelphia Tweed Ride.

tweed rides have become an international phenomenon where bicyclists dress in tweed (i wore houndstooth) and celebrate simple pleasures.

this ride included a stroll through Rittenhouse Square

a picnic and gaming opportunity

and some good old fashioned group bicycling around the city.

as we sat in the sunshine watching a penny farthing go by, we felt transported to a simpler time!

blahs vegas

went to vegas (my least fave place in the milky way) last week for the rad interbike bicycle trade show to help set up and man the Focus Bicycles booth

Focus is a German bike company that is newly launching in the US.

their bikes are incredible gems of German engineering and are designed by professional racers!

vegas was an interesting backdrop to a tradeshow for the bicycle industry. there are, at present, no bike lanes there.

vegas is unreal. it's an intense and constant juxtaposition of excess and lavish ornamentation

against pervasive ugliness.

but all in all i had a great time and got to see some really neat innovations in bikes, like these ones made of bamboo!

what do you get....

if you cross a chemical and a bicycle?

BIKE CARBONATE OF SODA.

Which Elizabethan Sailor could stop bikes?

SIR FRANCIS BRAKES!

Your reaction to those jokes--whether you rolled your eyes or laughed so hard you snarfed -- is because your brain is functioning properly. To continue operating as the incredible human being you are (with so many people that love you dearly), I IMPLORE you to wear a helmet while biking to protect your fragile brains.

stop thinking your hairdo is more imporant than your brain-do.

stop saying, "but I bike carefully" because accidents happen.

and I promise you won't develop an underbite from wearing a helmet.  pick a cool one!

WEAR A HELMET.  IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN BECAUSE I LOVE YOU.

sock it to me

sock puppet Sunday at Tattooed Mom's followed quite possibly the most beautiful weekend of my life.

kim & ernest

penelope & i 

meet april. she is my new Bianchi San Jose.  She is really special.