The cyclists I've known tended to read more than most other people. Perhaps that's peculiar to the US, or the parts of it in which I've lived: Here, cyclists who ride to work and for recreation are more likely to be college-educated professionals or creative people. That is a contrast to much of the rest of the world, where blue-collar and lower-paid workers pedaled and the bicycle was abandoned as soon as a person could afford a car.
Whatever the reasons, I find myself discussing things that involve reading--whether writing, literature, history or other related subjects--with cyclists when I get to know them. Some of us, I think, would love to combine the activities of reading and riding.
Some of us have tried. I used to have one of those wire stands that attached to the handlebars and held a book as you rode on your trainer or rollers. The problem is that if we're readers, we read faster than we ride, no matter how well-conditioned we are. So we can't pedal very many RPMs before we have to turn a page. That's very difficult, especially if you're on rollers, even if you're very skilled at riding on them (which I was, once). It's also not easy if you're doing a wind sprint and pedaling at, say, 200 RPMs.
The best most of us can do, I think, is to combine books and bikes rather than reading or writing. Someone, it seems, at the Cleveland Public Library understands as much. So he or she created a bookmobile that's pedaled into under-served neighborhoods:
The Book Bike contains three levels of shelving that can hold 260 pounds (!) of books. It even has bookmark, brochure and umbrella holders.
The trike has a double parking brake, three speeds--and a white racing stripe on a snappy orange finish. After all, a messenger--especially one bringing enlightenment and education--must be speedy!
(Note: Although I have provided a link to the website on which I found these images, I have not used the name of that website, as it might offend some!)
Whatever the reasons, I find myself discussing things that involve reading--whether writing, literature, history or other related subjects--with cyclists when I get to know them. Some of us, I think, would love to combine the activities of reading and riding.
Some of us have tried. I used to have one of those wire stands that attached to the handlebars and held a book as you rode on your trainer or rollers. The problem is that if we're readers, we read faster than we ride, no matter how well-conditioned we are. So we can't pedal very many RPMs before we have to turn a page. That's very difficult, especially if you're on rollers, even if you're very skilled at riding on them (which I was, once). It's also not easy if you're doing a wind sprint and pedaling at, say, 200 RPMs.
The best most of us can do, I think, is to combine books and bikes rather than reading or writing. Someone, it seems, at the Cleveland Public Library understands as much. So he or she created a bookmobile that's pedaled into under-served neighborhoods:
The Book Bike contains three levels of shelving that can hold 260 pounds (!) of books. It even has bookmark, brochure and umbrella holders.
The trike has a double parking brake, three speeds--and a white racing stripe on a snappy orange finish. After all, a messenger--especially one bringing enlightenment and education--must be speedy!
(Note: Although I have provided a link to the website on which I found these images, I have not used the name of that website, as it might offend some!)
