Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

How to fish.

Weaponizers

Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Preaching To The Choir

If you read the drivel spewed forth in this blog, (as I said in an earlier post, thank you for taking time out of your porn surfing to read this blog), then you most likely already “get it.” I was checking out EcoVelo the other day and was lead to an article in the Huffington Post.

I am often asked, "Why do you love bicycles?" For a few reasons, but mostly because I am in love with self-propulsion and self-motivation. I love finding solutions to problems and I want to leave the world in better condition than when I arrived. For too long we've behaved as if the resources of our world are infinite. They are not. They are finite. The disappearing species around the globe should be a canary in the coal mine for all of us.

I know by directing you to this article it’s not meant to educate you, since you already “get it.” However, maybe you’ll be prompted to pass this on to someone who’s not reached enlightenment.

Remember, the more people we can educate such that they “get it,” the better off everyone (think global, here) will be. Think globally, act locally. And don’t miss an opportunity to have some fun by riding your bike. Whether it’s a time trial bike complete with sippy cup or a Huffy with a squeaky chain – just ride, man!


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – What I Am Becoming

I wonder if I’m becoming a Curmudgeon. I looked it up on Wiki and it told me:

A curmudgeon is a miser or an ill-tempered (and frequently old) person full of stubborn ideas or opinions.

I guess most of that fits except the old part. In my opinion old is not a number but a state of mind. Therefore, I’m not old. In fact, I’ll bet other’s opinions are I’m the opposite of old, mostly infantile. By I digress…..

I’ve stepped back long enough and far enough to see the curmudgeon in me. I don’t trust the cops, I have very definite ideas on bicycle advocacy around here, and I don’t have much time for those who I view aren’t doing what they should for the same.

Lately the League of American Bicyclists put out their Bike Friendly State Rankings. My fair state came in twenty-eighth (28th) up thirteen (13) spots in one (1) year – this the second (2nd) year they’ve had such a thing.

The curmudgeon in me immediately wondered what was different from this year as compared to last. Consulting that crazy MinusCar fellow, he pointed out a few things. I guess when I see a thirteen (13) place rise I figured I’d be able to see and / or list off a few things I would consider worthy of such a rise.

And this makes me wonder if I’m not a curmudgeon so much as just getting Alzheimer’s and this was simply a moment of lucidity. Regardless, I’m going to ride my bike to and from work today. Provided, of course, I can remember where I put it and where I work.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Weekend Wrap Up

It was the S.O.’s weekend and holiday to work this past weekend and holiday. I took the opportunity to do a bit of riding.

Saturday I joined that crazy MinusCar fellow and a handful of others for the Coffee and Donut ride. We used the Coffee and Donut ride to check some of the traffic lights around town. The City has changed the sensitivity on some to make them better able to be tripped by bicycles. The ones they’ve changed work great.

Post official ride I toured back downtown with that crazy MinusCar fellow for a visit to the Farmer’s Market. I scored some leaf lettuce, spinach, radishes, and some aspar-a-goose. The typical early season crops.

That crazy MinusCar’s fam met him down there. They left with produce and an already planted in a cool container herb garden thingy. I can’t remember exactly the herbage, but there were at least four (4) and maybe five (5) different herbs in there.

Sunday morning I did a little puttering and then biked to a coffee establishment to gather coffee for the S.O. I biked it to her office and then took the long cut home.

Monday, Memorial Day, I got my ass out of bed and biked to a different coffee establishment to get coffee with the S.O. on her way to work. After having mine I went home and prepped for the annual ride to Luverne, MN.

At nine (9) AM six (6) of us headed eastward into the twenty-five mile per hour (25 MPH) headwind and the hilly route to Luverne. I horsed the Big Dummy up and down the hills and used the brute force method into the wind. The wind, at the start, was out of the east, south east. At least we’d have a tailwind home. Not.

Once in Luverne, we met up with Dirk Thee Bold and dined at the Chit Chat. Soon it was time for the return trip. The beefy winds were still so but changed directions to be mostly out of the South and only a bit out of the East. Our westward journey was not helped that much. In fact, with the large surface area free loaders provide, it didn’t feel like a tailwind at all. Oh well, find a happy gear, turn the cranks.

I made it home around five (5) PM putting in about eighty (80) miles. The temperature rose to eighty-six (86) degrees. A shower and a beer were just the ticket.

I know you have a lot of blogs to choose from in your reading day so I wanted to thank you for taking a few minutes out of your porn surfing to read this one. And have a great day, wherever your final destination might take. And thank you for shopping Snakebite.



Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Cool Lyrics

History Lesson

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Today’s Topic – The Wind’s Blowing. So What?

Ah, spring. Green grass, green trees, smells of blossoms. Bugs. And wind. Around here it is usually windy in the spring. We have days where the wind blows twenty five miles per hour (25 MPH) to thirty five miles per hour (35 MPH) sustained with gusts higher.



So, do you ride in such conditions or not? I do. I ride in them primarily because I have to ride – not having a car. But I also ride on windy days because it offers such a great training opportunity. If you really, truly want to become a stronger rider, you’ll not treat the windy days as “no ride” days.

It’s been pretty windy around here for a couple (2) ‘o weeks, or more, now. This is pretty much the S.O.’s first (1st) year into biking. About now you might be thinking I need to drag her kicking and screaming out to ride on windy days. Nope. Far from it. She’s actually the one (1) making sure we get some riding in even if it’s only a nineteen (19) mile lap around the bike trail. You gotta like a newbie who’s tougher than the roadies when it comes “go” / “no go” decision time!

Perhaps I'll go to my local bike shop and get some "arrow" bars or "air-oh" bars and put them on the Big Dummy - whichever is cheaper. OK, probably not.

Which brings me to a story.... There I was, minding my own business, riding the short one half (1/2) mile section of the bike trail portion of my commute home, when I was passed (and not too handily) by a significantly over weight gent on a - wait for this - a time trial bike! No kidding! Big ol' beer belly, time trial bike, complete with sippy cup, and platform pedals (really). On the bike trail. The windy (rhymes with grind-ee) bike trail. I've gotta start carrying my camera at all times. I filed that one (1) under "WTF?!?".



Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Time For A Roll-ee?

I had originally thought about taking the S.O. and doing the Big Mick this year. I normally do this ride because it’s so well supported and very scenic and about the easiest one hundred (100+) mile plus rides there is.

As aforementioned, I’ve been sticking pretty close to home in 2009. I’ve been saving money like crazy and dealing with some local biking issues.

In preparation for the Big Mick I’ve notified work I’m taking the Friday before and the Monday after off. Since I have these in the schedule for a little R & R, maybe I’ll stick with that much but go on roll-ee instead.

Roll-ee would be loading up the Big Dummy with gear and hitting the road for a little mini tour around the area stopping to camp overnight in some State Parks. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea. Hmmm……….

I think this at least needs more consideration. This could be a pretty interesting little trip. Or, roll-ee.



Ride On.

Today’s Topic – How About Some Clean Air

I was over at No Impact Man recently and was reading up on the American Clean Air and Security Act of 2009. Here’s part of the post:

The next 7 days are critical for the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. The bill is moving through a mark-up process where it can become a strong bill or can be weakened by Big Oil and Dirty Coal lobbyists. These lobbyists want more oil, more coal, polluter giveaways, and for America to treat global warming as a hoax. They have the money and resources to push their agenda, but we have a voice.

Please contact your US Representative and express your thoughts. If you want appropriate action, you need to step up and be heard. I did my part. Contact has been made and my views made known.



Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Amateur Hour

I was contacted, recently, by a couple (2) ‘o chicks needing their newly purchased, still in the box, bikes assembled. Welcome to Snakebite Bicycle Works!

I set up shop in my kitchen. I put up the stand and plunked the requisite tools on the kitchen table and went to work.



A short time later I was hauling big cardboard boxes down to recycling and two (2) bikes have emerged ready to be final fitted to the chicks.

I’m not getting paid too handsomely. But I will say I can go buy a couple (2) ‘o Black Alberts and have a pretty generous tip left over.



Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Weekend Update

I had the day off for the National Holiday that is Bike To Work day. My day started early as I had to be at the location around 5:30 AM. I set up the Big Dummy as my vendor’s table and waited for rollers to show up and sign up for the Bike 2 Work Challenge.



And they did.



In fact, there are fifty-nine (59) people who were up for the challenge.

Later on Friday that crazy MinusCar fellow and I explored around Leader’s Park. Leader’s is the target park for the singletrack project we’re working on.







Friday night brought the FAB Starlight ride, one (1) lap around the bike trail, and a short cut to Monk’s for some good stuff. The windy conditions practically killed everyone in the group except the S.O. and I as no one else had anything left in them to go to Monk’s. We had to brave the place alone.

Saturday brought the downtown loft tour. The S.O. and I purchased the five dollar tickets ($5) to do so and we did so. We saw some OK places but we thankful for our loft apartment. It has a deck – the others didn’t – and rent is a fraction of most of the others.

About noon, two (2) out of town guests arrived. The Old Bag and Wheel Dancer pulled into downtown with bikes along. The S.O. and I met them and we proceeded to do a lap around the trail.



I was snapping pictures and so was the Old Bag.



See that wobble? See that fence down below to the right? See which direction she’s pointed? Well, she righted herself, stayed on the trail, and did not get tangled up in it.

I had a brief 1:30 PM appointment at a coffee shop near the trail so we stopped for it. We had java and then mounted up to conclude our lap.



I almost forgot – by the zoo we stopped to look at a Cheetah look back at us.



Once done with our lap we bid our goodbyes. The two (2) were in town for a graduation thingy and they needed to get to it.

It’s pretty cool when you can meet other blogger types to put a face with a website and even cooler when you can do a little riding with them. Thanks for coming you two (2) and thanks for the ride!

Sunday was windier than anyone would like so not much happened. Coffee was consumed and groceries were retrieved. Which brings us to Monday and a pending Memorial Day weekend.



Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Money Talk

Got spare time and $10? Make.

Ride On.

Today's Topic - Bike To Work Day

For some of us EVERY day is bike to work day.



But today it's the official one (1) in my fair city. I hope you'll stop by my table/bike and say hi either right before or right after you have some of those free pancakes.

And, don't forget this



event that will be going on until October 16th, 2009.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Jesse And A Very Cool City

Check out THIS interesting quote from the former Minnesota Governor. I think most Minnesotans will tell you he wasn’t their favorite Gov, but I like his very candid assessment of stuff. The dude told it like it is / was, and that, is rare among politicians.

I might have to expatriate soon. Check this out:

VAUBAN, Germany — Residents of this upscale community are suburban pioneers, going where few soccer moms or commuting executives have ever gone before: they have given up their cars.

Street parking, driveways and home garages are generally forbidden in this experimental new district on the outskirts of Freiburg, near the French and Swiss borders. Vauban’s streets are completely “car-free” — except the main thoroughfare, where the tram to downtown Freiburg runs, and a few streets on one edge of the community. Car ownership is allowed, but there are only two places to park — large garages at the edge of the development, where a car-owner buys a space, for $40,000, along with a home.

Now there’s progress! Wouldn’t this be a sweet scenario, which we’ll never see around here? There are a lot of transportation and living lessons that could be learned from the Europeans. Pay attention.



Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Road Construction (Rant)

It seems some of the job creating, spending the stimulus money, getting the economy going again plans, are to build more highways. I wonder if this is money well spent. As of press time the price for a barrel of West Texas Intermediate Crude is almost $60 per barrel. About a week or so ago it was about $50 per barrel.

Meanwhile, Chrysler has filed for bankruptcy and it’s probably a matter of time before General Motors does. Ford’s doing what it can to avoid this. We’ll see on their fate.

Meanwhile, more cropland is being sewn with corn to be converted to ethanol. There is a finite amount of crop land. What might have been wheat or soybeans is now going toward corn. We’re burning food for the sake of being able to go through the drive thru. Am I the only one (1) who thinks this is very wrong?

Earlier in the Obama phase, he’d talked about high speed rail being constructed in strategic parts of the country. I’d suggest putting some $$ toward making Amtrak a smooth running, preferred travel entity before the country adds the high speed stuff. From what I’m hearing, trains can move more people, and more freight, more efficiently than vehicles ever could. In instances they’re better off than planes.

Kunstler calls this “Happy Motoring.” The more I think about it, the more I think he’s onto something when he suggests cars are our biggest downfall. When I drive around town the older houses have a one (1) car garage. A bit newer ones have a two (2) car garage, and now it’s all the rage for the newest homes to have a three (3) car garage. When will it end? Don’t these people know the costs associated with the “convenience” of owning a vehicle?

Americans get more and more cars, they get fatter and fatter, the cost to own a vehicle (including putting gas in the tank) goes up and up, and then the economy tanks. More than a coincidence I think.

Hey, America! Get off the couch! Sell one (1) of those things. Ride a bike or walk to run those errands within two (2) miles of home. Ride your damn bike to work everyday. Save some of that hard earned money. Quit making it necessary to burn food in your gas tank.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – OK, How Many?

I’ve announced THIS contest around town. The newspaper ran an article on it. Now I’m getting emails regarding it. The chick who runs All Things Healthy for the City emailed me. The questions I’m trying to estimate are how many people are going to show up and sign up? Will these people bring pre-filled out registration forms?

I ask these rhetorical questions in an effort to try and figure out how many forms and such I need to print out. I’d rather not print out more than I need. No need to kill trees for no reason. I can always take names and email address and send them the stuff later. But, that makes me look unprepared.



Yes, I’m stressing over pretty much nothing. Sometimes I do that. I did the same thing wondering if anyone would show up for the Bike Swap. Lots did.

Well, here we go! Come one (1) come all ({infinity} plus 1).

Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Look At What Happens

When I’d mentioned the Bike 2 Work contest to that crazy MinusCar fellow he immediately offered to match the cabbage I was putting up for prize money. As he put it, he has extra just laying around as a result of not driving a carbon emitting, traffic creating, road hogging, vehicle.



The way I understand this, when you give up driving or owning a steel cage, you’re issued a tree you’re supposed to plant in your backyard. He was issued one (1), he planted it, and now the thing is producing money. Yes, for those who give up the car, they have money growing on a tree.



This has mixed ramifications. On the one (1) hand he’s got cabbage to put toward contests like THIS. On the other hand, he can’t use the cliché, “What!? Do you think money grows on trees?!?” when his family members want some to buy the latest eye-pod-phone-bug zapper.

Do you want a money tree? Get rid of that damn vehicle. Ride a bike. It’s as easy as that.


Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

A better (no, worse) mouse trap.

I’d LOVE one of these!

Ride On.

Today’s Topic – I’m Running A Little Contest

I’ve decided to run a little contest in my fair city. It’s a bike to work contest. I, along with that crazy MinusCar fellow, have donated some bones as prize money. The goal of this thing is to fill the streets with rollers.

In my fair city May 15th is Bike To Work day.

Day? As in one (1)? Why can’t every day be a bike to work day? Well then!

I’m thinking the only thing potential rollers need is a bit of prodding. Or a carrot. Or both.

My contest is giving away cold, hard cash to the top three (3) in this contest. There will be no registration fee. The way it works is bike commuters will fill out a registration form, show up to Bike To Work Day to turn in the form and get weighed, and keep a log of their days biked. The contest will run May 15th through October 16th. At the end of the contest participants will meet up again where I’ll tally the results.

The place finishers will be decided based on how many days they’ve bike to work and how many pounds they’ve lost. I’m dreaming up some sort of sliding scale to level the playing field as best I can.

Go ahead. Click for big.


First (1st) place will take home six hundred dollars ($600), second (2nd) place will take home four hundred dollars ($400), and third place will take home two hundred ($200) dollars. But, can you really see any non winners here? Me either.

The goals are to get more people biking to work, make those people healthier, and demonstrate how fricking easy this really is.

This is the learning curve year. Next year I’m hoping to up the prize money substantially, maybe have a few other prizes, and get the number of participants to explode. Next year, since I’m hoping to be paying out several thousand dollars, I’ll need to have better controls to deter cheaters and such. This year is the learning year. We’ll see how it goes and what is learned. Next year could see more criteria to keep the playing field level.

Anyway, that’s what I’m up to. This is local to my fair city. If you’re from there, or know of someone who’s from here that should be in, please contact me using the email address on my profile page.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Did You Get This, Too???

I’ve now received two (2) emails asking me to be a part of wellsphere.com. Check this out:

Hi Snakebite ,

I just wanted to follow up on the invitation I sent you to be a featured blogger on Wellsphere.com. I was impressed with your blog at http://lifebikin.blogspot.com, and invited you to be a featured blogger in the new Biking community. We would republish from your blog the articles you are already posting, so there is nothing you have to do but say yes. We will also promote your blog in our new dynamic, magazine-like WellPages (with no extra work for you)! If you're interested in being featured and promoting your blog to the Wellsphere audience (now nearly 6 million visitors per month, and growing), please drop me an email, or you can begin right away by signing up at (blah, blah, blah).

Good Health!

Geoff

Now, for the one (1) or two (2) of you that actually read this thing from time to time, if you ran some fancy schmancy wellness website, would you want this drivel on it? Geesh. What’s this dude thinking? Or, is he blanketing “blog world” phishing for dudes to sign up. Have any of you gotten any of these types of solicitations?

Inquiring minds want to know.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Sexist Stuff

Wanna play a game? It’s called guess the ass / boobies.

What’s this?

(_!_)

A regular ass.


What’s this?

(__!__)

A fat ass.


What’s this?

(!)

A tight ass.


What’s this?

(_?_)

A dumb ass.


What’s this?

(_E=mc2_)

A smart ass.


What are these?

(o)(o)

Regular boobies.


What are these?

( O )( O )

Big boobies.


What are these?

( ‘ )( ‘ )

Perky boobies.


What are these?

( . )( . )

Saggy boobies.


And lastly, what are these?

( $ )( $ )

Silicon boobies.

There you have it. Don’t say I never taught you anything – as useless as it is.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – As Much As I Can Remember From The Weekend

OK, I’ve waited too long to try to type this out so pardon me if I screw something up like dates, times, places, people, etc, etc, etc.

I lurched into the weekend with the S.O. and I joining nine (9) other rollers for the FAB starlight ride. The call was to roll counter clockwise (as funny as that may read, it does actually make sense) and we were off just past eight pee em (8:00 PM).

About five (5) or six (6) miles into it we met that crazy MinusCar fellow going the other way. He turned around to join up, nearly getting tee-boned by the two (2) rollers he didn’t know were traveling in his original direction. Disaster was averted and life was good.

He hit Monk’s afterwards for some really good beers. Conversations were conversed and beverages consumed.

Saturday I loaded up the Big Dummy with posters and the S.O. and I were off around town delivering and such. We stopped for food, we stopped for coffee, we stopped to chat, but got the job done.

Once the Dummy was devoid of posters there was room for other stuff. A quick stop at the Cliff Avenue Greenhouse and were back riding with some flowers, a tomato plant, and a pepper plant tucked nicely on board. I strapped a tomato cage to the snap deck with a bungee.

Sunday was supposed to be less windy and, therefore, long ride day. The winds were uncooperative. The S.O. and I opted for one point six (1.6) laps around the bike trail instead. Thus reducing our exposure to headwinds by a significant factor.

Why do we ride on windy days? Because if we waited for a non windy one (1), we’d be waiting all our lives. And, we have courage. And you know what a certain someone said about courage, don’t you?

“Courage is being scared to death – but saddling up anyway.”
-John Wayne

Monday was kind of a bummer. Which brings us to Tuesday, which is today. It is also Cinco de Mayo, which ignorant ‘mericans think is Mexican Independence Day. Wrong. It commemorates a battle between a bunch of rag-tag Mexicans and the much better equipped French. The Mexicans won the day. The French, much to the Mexicans chagrin, were back later and whupped up on them. However, the date, Cinco de Mayo (the fifth of May) is celebrated, mostly regionally, in Mexico commemorating the day the Mexicans won.

Anyway, back to the stupid ‘mericans. As if they (I say they because I’m not a wanna be Mexican or Irishman) needed another reason to get loaded, they’ve latched onto this holiday almost as hard as they have to St. Patrick’s Day.


Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Just One This Week. It's a bit longer, but gooder.



Ride On.

Today’s Topic – How It Should Be

The following video is of a typical day in Portland, OR. {sigh} What I wouldn’t give to see that around here.



I forwarded this video on to a key employee of my fair city along with a short commentary and a request the employee forward this video on to decision maker types that work at the City.

Will this make a difference with the City folk? As the cliché says, “Time will tell.”


Ride On.