Size Matters

 Make sure it fits!

Along For The Ride

 We’ve all seen sepia-toned photos of mustachioed, too-hatted men astride “penny-farthing” (high-wheeler) bikes.

You may even have seen an image of a woman—probably in “bloomers”—on one of those machines.

But what about the kids?

A Longer Ride Today

 Daylight Saving Time began in most of the US today, when 2 am became 3 am. EST.

So…there’s more light at the end of today’s ride!

Le Velo De Plume

 If “stationary” stores sell pens and other items for writing,

do “stationery” bikes exist only on paper?

(Now that I think of it, a store—at least a physical one—is, by definition, stationary. But can you ride a stationery bike?)

Beasts Of Burden

 I have never ridden a donkey.

I have, however, cycled in places where people rode both mules and bicycles. The bikes, of course, were strictly utilitarian:  You don’t see anything that would be pedaled in the Grand Tours on rural paths in Southern Italy or the Greek Islands.

And I don’t recall seeing anything like this:

What Must You Overcome?

 You’re a couple of miles (or a few kilometers) from the end of a daylong ride. But every pedal stroke feels like a Herculean effort; every turn of your wheels seems not to move you any closer to home, the finish line or wherever your ride leaves off. 

You keep on pedaling and hope for a rush from the energy bar (or other snack) you downed. In the meantime, do you tell yourself, “Hmm…Maybe something is wrong with the bike”?

Motivation

 What keeps you going?

Five weeks—or less—until Spring, depending on whether you believe Phil or Chuck.

What Did He See?

 Today is Groundhog Day.

According to ancient folklore, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter will follow. If he doesn’t, spring is imminent.

Drumroll…

Six more weeks.  Well, that is more or less when Spring Equinox, a.k.a. the “official “ first day of Spring arrives.

Sometimes I think Andy Warhol had Phil in mind when he said that everyone will have 15 minutes of fame.

I wonder what he does during the rest of the year.

Update:  Staten Island Chuck, out local “colleague “ of Phil, didn’t see his shadow.

Five Times The Pleasure—Or Pain?

 One of the dilemmas (dilemmae?) of going on a ride with a random group of people is that, more than likely, their experience and abilities vary, sometimes greatly. If there isn’t an agreement about the distance, pace and rest stops, such a ride can tax the endurance of one rider and the patience of another.

Could this be a solution?

Whatever Your Color

 A wise old philosopher told me,  “It takes a real man to ride a pink bike.”

Rearguard Marlee?

Hmm…Perhaps Marlee can ride with me after all.

I wonder how the woman feels about the arrangement.

If It Fits…

When I first became a dedicated cyclist, the only “helmets” available were “leather hairnets.”

Has any helmet manufacturer offered a model called “The Hairnet?”

Dressed Up For The Holidays

 Three more days until Christmas.

‘Tis the season for—what else?—tacky sweaters.

Liberation

 I live a block from the New York Botanical Garden and have visited several times during the eight months I’ve lived here.

About a mile (1.6 km) away is the Bronx Zoo. I went a couple of times as a kid but have no inclination to go there now:  I don’t think I can bear (no pun intended) to see animals in cages.

I do, however, wonder how they might escape.

My Future?

 Is this my future?

Not Of The Same Species

 On Tuesday, I expressed the first iota of sympathy I’ve felt in a long time for Lance Armstrong.  After all, I can empathize with anyone who’s had bikes stolen.

But it might be the last time I, or very many other people, express compassion for him. He is not the first, and probably won’t be the last, cheater to ride a bike. However, few, if any have done more to disgrace cycling.

On the other hand, a cheetah on a bike? That would be a first. And it certainly wouldn’t  soil the reputation of the sport as the one whose seven Tour de France victories were vacated.

Fluid Dynamics

 What’s in those bottles?

Gatorade, perhaps?

Á Misanthrope? Maybe, Sort Of.

 I have had many labels attached to me.  Perhaps this is one:

After all, I have lived with more bikes than humans!

Ya Gotta Start Somewhere

How was your first ride?

High Visibility

Eight years ago, I recalled my comical attempts to sell bicycle safety flags that had been in American Youth Hostels’ storage room for, probably, a decade.

That got me to thinking about how we, as cyclists, can make ourselves more visible to motorists. Perhaps there is no better way than this: