11:55
kaniamazdar
I'm off to Oregon for a couple of weeks and likely won't be blogging or even getting near the computer, so I'll see y'all in mid-July. Ride safe, everybody!Image at Viu en Bic...
Monday, 30 June 2008
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Monday, 23 June 2008
Reader Project: Lissa's Blue Bombshell
Lissa from New York posted a comment about my wife's Schwinn Suburban a few weeks ago, saying that she has one of her own that she has recently invested in as a supplemental and possibly alternative form of transportation to her car. Her beautiful "Blue Bombshell" as I dubbed it (a name that's stuck, apparently), needs a bit of work to get it going again. As she reports (with a few helpful tips on cleaning): Up until now, all I've done is clean her up a bit -- steel wool and a combination of vinegar and water have cleaned up the rust on the wheels, the handlebars, and all of the little...
Friday, 20 June 2008
The Revolution Will be Pedal-Powered
Inspiring words from Harv at the blog of Los Angeles-based C.I.C.L.E. [Cyclsits Inciting Change thru Live Exchange]:It’s in the news daily now, oil (and gasoline) prices are hitting new highs and the whole world is concerned about it. Here in LaLa Land (Los Angeles) naysayers are lamenting that the City is dragging their feet about installing bike infrastructure and car drivers just won’t change their habits to seek alternate transportation. This may be true regarding the lack of infrastructure, but we are pressing on regardless. It is not true that the general public will not seek alternate transportation....
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Replacing the Peugeot's Rear Axle
A while back, I discovered that the rear axle on the Peugeot was bent. I ordered a new axle from Harris Cyclery, and have just now gotten everything put back together. It wasn't that hard, but life has a way of intruding on our best-laid plans. There aren't many pictures because I prefer not to leave greasy fingerprints all over the camera. Until I can hire a full-time camera operator, you'll just have to deal with it. Here's the rundown:DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional mechanic, and this post should be read only for entertainment purposes (if you find this kind of thing entertaining). If...
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
11 Tips for the Everyday Urban Cyclist
Alex from Hank and Me has posted an open letter to Chicago's new wave of urban cyclists. The entire post is just fantastic and is available here, but I wanted to excerpt the main points, since they apply to anyone on a bike in any city:1. time for a check-up [for your bike]2. get loaded [racks and bags]3. stop being ms. nice gal/mr. nice guy [be assertive, claim your space]4. ignore the horns5. check it or wreck it [your temper, that is]6. the most direct route is not always the safest7. slow the $%^& down8. it can be your fault9. they did not put ramps in the sidewalks for you10. put away the ipod11. be kind to your fellow bikersL...
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
The Slow Bicycle Movement
Here's a bandwagon we can all jump on because it's moving nice and slow. The OBB is happy to join Copenhagenize, Hank & Me, Copenhagen Cycle Chic, Drunk And In Charge of a Bicycle, and probably some others, in the Slow Bicycle Moveme...
Old Folks on Old Bikes
From the Fresno Bee, via Bike Commute Tips Blog (image: Fresno Bee):Fred Mathes rides his bike to the post office (which in this neighborhood is inside the local video store), to the local diner, and out through the open fields.He's 92. His bicycle--a black, still-shiny, three-speed Schwinn--is 56.Mathes feels no need for a newer bicycle. "Did you hear about the centipede who fell in a ditch?" he asks. "He couldn't get up. He was too exhausted trying to figure out what foot to put first. Same thing with a bike. Who needs 18 gears?"For his 80th birthday he rode to Oxnard, Calif.--some 380 miles....
Monday, 16 June 2008
Redesign
Since the OBB is almost one year old, it seemed like time to update the look. I've also cleaned up the labels a bit and added and removed a few links from the sidebar. I'll probably be tinkering with the design a bit in the coming days and weeks, so feel free to let me know what you like or don't like about the new design. Also, I wanted to pass along this very cool piece of sidewalk art spotted on a ride around my neighborhood this weekend. I read it as "Take Time"--which I assume means slow down, ride a bike, enjoy life. I love finding things like this.And some things coming soon on the...
Friday, 13 June 2008
Unintentional Hiatus
Hi all, I've been a bad Old Bike Blogger lately, I know. I've been hard at work getting a full first draft of my dissertation done, and haven't had the time or energy to do much else. But hang in there, I've got a couple of features for the "Reader Projects" section coming up, a possible site re-design, and some work on my bikes to report. I'll be back soon (possibly as early as next week), so until then, take care and ride sa...
