Bike Blog

June 6, 2012

Naturally good?

Yes, I know I haven’t written much here. I’ll have to post about some fallout I got from an earlier post on a bike forum. But mostly book stuff and twice-weekly literary postings have gotten in the way. I’m still riding, three times a week. Just a quick comment for today – was in an ethical debate with someone who was arguing that people are inherently good. I had to ask her if she ever rode a bike in the street. You know, commuting. A bike as part of the flow, part of the mechanized society, a component of transport. […]
June 14, 2012

Penny-farthing

Was in a melancholy mood on my way to the dentist this morning. It was supposed to be riding day but this side trip ended that. Saw a cyclist commuter a mile or so out and heaved a sigh. Even with the heat and effort and danger, I wished it was me. Then I saw her. On the Lakemont bike lane, she was riding one of those old fashioned bikes (penny-farthings are one name for them). But this wasn’t an old one – it looked remilled, built along those lines. She was sitting about four-five feet up, just spinning that […]
July 29, 2012

Dickheads

I can’t find it – I’d read somewhere that Orlando ranks worst in drivers’ skills and safety. I know we are solid-worst for pedestrian deaths, but I wanted to round it out with this statistic. Couldn’t find it. Tsk. I started to realize it as I chatted on the bike forums. Some riders would report going weeks if not months without a right-cross or left-hook. Me, I get them virtually every day. I watch motorists bolt in and out of traffic. I see them stop in travel lanes for the damnedest reasons (or no reason at all). And red lights? […]
August 23, 2012

Pull the other one…

Car’s in the shop after being rammed. Thought I could be urbane and hip by riding in all four days when I wouldn’t have it, a show of reliance and such. Was at the intersection of 1792 and Orange, waiting the light on my way to work. It changed, I went onto the right pedal and suddenly pain shot through my leg. It felt like the ratlines of a ship giving way, right before the mast topples, a physical thrum. I remember making a “Yip” noise and wobbling across the intersection, which was suddenly a borderless realm of concrete. Thought […]
August 25, 2012

Bridge to somewhere

After that horrible leg-pull last week, I was looking at my bike like it was the horse that had thrown me. Since dropping the meds (because they made me into a staggering zombie), the leg’s been a little sore. When Citracare called to see how I was doing, I asked if I could ride. “Sure, but for goodness sakes, take it easy.” Knew just the place. I’d seen the ladies down the street riding on the new urban trail downtown, one that wends between the lakes and parks. I’d been dying to try it and its only two miles off. […]
September 10, 2012

Liner

There was hardly a crash. A slight jar shook the forward end of the Titanand sliding down her fore-topmast-stay and rattling on deck came a shower of small spars, sails, blocks, and wire rope. Then, in the darkness to starboard and port, two darker shapes shot by–the two halves of the ship she had cut through; and from one of these shapes, where still burned a binnacle light, was heard, high above the confused murmur of shouts and shrieks, a sailorly voice: “May the curse of God light on you and your cheese-knife, you brass-bound murderers.” This comes from Futility, […]
October 7, 2012

I claim dis land for Spain!

It was Vasco Núñez de Balboa who sloshed down into the Pacific Ocean in his travel-worn boots, gazing upon this unseen ocean. I know the feeling now. Heard that the Cady Way bridge over Red Bug Road had been completed. I’d gotten all the way there a couple of times, looking at that living sea of asphalt, wondering what lay beyond. Now that it was up, now that I had an open day, I decided to go see it. Observations… My bike was all sandy from the ride home Friday night (commuting in the driving rain). I took a toothbrush […]
November 26, 2012

Another rider for change

Nothing brings reflections like birthdays. I was left wondering why I even bother in life. Writing? I’m hardly moving books these days and have no idea (or interest) in marketing it. And as for my bike commute? Sometimes I wonder – even with sea levels rising and waist lines expanding, people are still buying FUVs, ones with fold down entertainment systems and personal seat heaters. So how long does one stand on the crag of conviction, howling into the maelstrom? When does one just pack it in and turn on the telly? I was soaking in moroseness in my pod […]
December 8, 2012

Getting old

Got home from the commute last night and noticed a thak-thak-thak noise from the back hub. Checked for broken spokes, nails through the sidewall (last week, got one of those), all that stuff. Nope. Sounds like the hub. Been dealing with birthday fallout, all that getting-older stuff now that I’ve rolled by bio-odometer to 54. So it was like an echo of last week when I pushed my bike into the shop and had the guy there say, “An old T-700. Haven’t seen one of those in ages. Used to have one years back”. I hadn’t noticed the years roll […]
December 22, 2012

Make way

Was riding home, this Friday before Christmas. Good time to be on a bike – the freeway was packed, the main roads were jammed, and many drivers were desperately trying their secret back ways to get through the press and meeting little luck. But on a bike, with plenty of bike lanes, it’s the usual commute home. South on 1792, down an endless lane of traffic. Up in the seat, watching over the roofs to make sure nobody is getting waved through (love that trick). And up ahead, I see a big FUV who’d played the timid game (or set […]