No Soy Una Cyclista Típica

 I may be, ahem, in midlife. So I might be slowing down. But, by virtue of half a century of dedicated cycling—and writing this blog, I can confidently make this claim about myself:

Enjoy Cinco de Mayo!

After El Cinco, Le Huit

 Three days ago, Cinco de Mayo was celebrated by, I am told, more gringos in Los Estados Unidos than actual Mexicans anywhere in the world.

Today is another holiday or day of commemoration, depending on where you are.  Or, if you are in the Americas, you might not be aware of it.

On this date in 1945, the Allies accepted the unconditional surrender of German forces.  Since then, in France and other countries, this date is celebrated as Victory in Europe Day.  (If you hear a French person say something that sounds like “wheat-may,” they’re talking about huit mai: this date). In Germany, it is a somber day of commemoration.  Here in the US, it was observed mainly by veterans—of whom very few remain—of World War II’s European theatre.

As I noted in an earlier post, bicycles played a significant role in the war and led, interestingly, to lighter bicycles and changes in civilian attire.

Here is a photo Robert John McNary Smith, who served in engineer and weather units of the US Army, took on the Champs-Elysées on 8 May 1945.  It’s part of the National World War II Museum’s collection.

Fuel Efficiency

 Today is Cinco de Mayo.

So, of course, I am going to ride--and eat Mexican food.  Which Mexican food(s), I haven't decided yet.

But I think this T-shirt might influence my choice:

I Hope They Have Their Cinco De Mayo Some Day

Today is Cinco de Mayo.  

One day, I hope Ukranians will have a similar holiday:  They are fighting off an invasion attempt, just as the Mexicans did--successfully-- 160 years ago. 

The funny thing about this day, and other Mexican holidays like Dia de Muertos, are more likely to be celebrated by Americans who see it as an excuse to party.

I plan to ride and, yes, eat Mexican food.  I'm told that what they serve  at Los Portales, around the corner from my apartment, is authentic.  I suspect it is:  I see Mexicans eating there.  All I know is that it's good, as I've eaten there, and ordered take-out from them, any number of times.

Cinco De Biko

This should have been on a Grateful Dead album cover.

Perhaps it would have been, had Jose Pulido drawn it about 40 years earlier.  It was part of a post about the "Cinco de Biko" post on Roof Pig!, a seemingly-dormant blog.

The image seems more appropriate to Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), but it somehow seems fitting for a ride on this day, Cinco de Mayo.  

Enjoy your "Cinco de Biko," whatever it is!

Cycle Y Corona ?

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Senora Provina, my old Spanish teacher might be appalled. Aprendiste algo en mi clase?

She certainly would wonder what kinds of lessons we’re learning from the COVID pandemic.  In years past, this day was an occasion for revelry, bright colors, spicy foods and “Cinco de Cycle” or “Cycle de Mayo” bike rides.  

To my knowledge, none of those rides are running today.  Your favorite Mexican restaurant, if it’s open, is doing only take-out or delivery —and may have a limited menu selection. 

I am going for a ride.  Afterward, I think I’ll order something from Los Portales. I’ve been going to them since the day about fifteen years ago when I was riding by and saw it full of Mexican families.  I stopped in and got “hooked.”

Of course, the question is:  What to drink?  I wonder how many people are going to drink Corona  today?

What I Will And Won't Do On Cinco De Mayo

I have it on good authority (i.e., some Mexicans of my acquaintance) that one sure-fire way to give yourself away as a gringo is to eat Tex-Mex or Cal-Mex or Nuyo-Mex food and drink Corona beer on this day, Cinco de Mayo.

From what they tell me, outside of Puebla, the holiday is not widely celebrated in Mexico.  It's not seen as "Mexican Independence Day" any more than 24 December, the day the War of 1812 ended, is seen as American Independence Day.

From Pinterest

In fact, according to my authorities/acquaintances, Mexicans have actually taken to calling this day "Drinko de Mayo" and "Gringo de Mayo".  Somehow I'm not surprised:  The vast majority of folks who get drunk on St. Patrick's Day aren't Irish, or even partly of Celtic heritage of any sort.

And, in another parallel to Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated more robustly in the US, Canada and Australia than it is in Ireland itself.  The day celebrating an Anglo-Roman who converted Ireland to Christianity has become, more than anything, an ostensible celebration of Irish heritage, just as Cinco has become a celebration of Mexican pride.

(Likewise, Italian-Americans see Columbus Day as an occasion to celebrate their roots and culture.  But why, of all people, do we choose someone who got lost?)

Photo by Can Turkyilmaz, from Oak Cliff Advocate

Anyway...I promise I won't wear a sombrero or fake moustache.  (Having had a real moustache--and beard--for long periods of my previous life, I get no thrill out of sporting facsimiles.)  I won't even wear a sarape or any of those brightly-colored dresses or shoes.   I might eat something Mexican because, well, I like Mexican food, even in all of its bastardizations.

"Working Relationship"  by Nick Mc Coy, from the Oak Cliff Advocate

But I'll probably go for a ride after work.  That's one thing that translates into almost any culture, and therefore isn't culturally insensitive!

From the Downtown Mobile Alliance

(That bike shop certainly looks OK to me!)

 

Cycling Cinco de Mayo

As you know, today is Cinco de Mayo.

To commemorate the Mexican victory over France at the battle of Puebla (Yes, that's what this holiday is about!), I'm going for a ride.

First, I have to choose a bike. This looks like a good candidate:

From Supercompressor

Everyone knows you can't ride properly without the right outfit.  Now, since lycra hadn't been invented at the time of Puebla--and wouldn't look right with this bike--I'm thinking of more traditional garb:

From Teewallpapers

Of course, the right outfit isn't complete without the right shoes:

From Pinterest

and headgear:

From The Purple Passport

Of course, riding while holding off les militaires burns up lots of calories.  So, in the lovely pannier on the bike, I'll pack some of these:

From Cookie Cutter Search

At the end of the ride I'll have a proper Pueblana repast:

From All Wallpapers Gallery

Feliz  Cinco de Mayo, Amigas y Amigos!

Cinco de Mayo Bike Jam

In my time, I've cycled on pretty much every holiday you can think of, including ones I never celebrated.  For that matter, I've probably cycled on holidays without even knowing it.

I'd guess that, in most years, I've ridden on Cinco de Mayo, whether it was a weekend day ride or simply a commute to work, as I did today.  But I never did a ride like this:

I suppose that's about as appropriate a ride as any for this fete.  This ride was scheduled for today in--where else?--Texas.  It was in Austin, to be precise.  If I'm not mistaken, that's Lance Armstrong's hometown.


I wonder whether he ever did a ride like that.  BMX is one of the few kinds of riding I've never done, mainly because I was a bit old for it by the time it came along.  That, and bicycle polo.  But who'd play a game of bicycle polo on Cinco de Mayo?   I would, just because "bicycle polo on Cinco de Mayo" has a nice ring to it, verdad?  (I couldn't type an upside-down question mark before "verdad.")  


Anyway...Did you do a ride to commemorate this day?  Or did you just do a ride and eat Mexican food afterward?  Actually, that's what I did.  And I washed it down with a "virgin" margarita. That's how I reward myself for doing something I enjoy.  Es una buena vida, verdad?