Leading Us To Zerve

If you are in New York, Paris or another large city, you have probably seen the local edition of Time Out.  If your city doesn't have an edition, there probably is some very similar publication that lists restaurants, clubs, concerts, art openings and other places and events where you can spend a night--or day--out.

There are also other publications that cater to specific interests, such as Poetry 24 7. And, of course, one can find listings of poetry readings, jazz concerts and such in more general-interest publications and websites such as The Village Voice.

The situation is a bit different for cycling-related events, though.  If you belong to your local bike club or to organizations like Transportation Alternatives, you can find out about organized rides as well as places to buy or rent bikes and related equipment.  However, such information has not been as widely available in non-cycling publications and websites as art-, culture- and nightlife-related listings are outside of venues devoted to them.

That is why I am happy for something Derek Chu passed along to me:  a website called Zerve. It's a bit like Time Out in that it offers information about things you can do for fun in whatever city you happen to find yourself.  There is, interestingly, a page about rides and other cycling-related activities in New York City.  You can also make reservations and purchase tickets, if they are necessary, via links provided in the Zerve listings.

 

Out Of The Mists Of The Past

This may not seem bicycle-related.  However, I believe there is a kinship between urban mass transportation systems and cycling.  

All right...Urban mass transportation systems have always interested me.  So has the history of New York.  Perhaps those are the reasons I found this photo irresistible and was thinking of an excuse to post it here:

This train is entering the New Lots Avenue station on the Canarsie Line (now the "L" train) of the New York City subway system.  From the light and the condition of the trees, I'd guess it's from early spring.  And, from the style of train cars, I can tell you that this undated photo was probably taken some time before the early 1970's, as these cars were "retired" by that time.

You can find this photo, and more, on www.nycsubway.org. (Note:  The site is not affiliated with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.)

Saturday Sillies: Twisted Toilets

OK.  After yesterday's rant, some Saturday Sillies are in order.  (Can "sillies" be in order?  Or is that an oxymoron?)

If your local bike shop also doubles as a headquarters for skateboarders--or simply has lots of adolescents hanging around in it--it probably sells low-rider bikes.

For years, low-rider enthusiasts have favored "twisted" parts. 

On this bike, the handlebars, mirror holders, fender braces and banana-seat struts all look like mono-chromed candy canes.  I have also seen pedals with twisted cages and cranks that look "twizzled."

Still, most of the frames looked like the ones found on Schwinn Sting-Rays and Raleigh Choppers that were popular in my childhood:  They were constructed from traditional round steel tubes.

Just recently, I came across a twisted frame.  However, it wasn't made for a lowrider:  It seems to have 700C wheels and conventional road/city bike components:

From Zedomax.com

 

I have no idea of how such a bike would ride or how long it would last.

On another note, I'm going to offer you an insight that very few other bloggers or cyclists--or, indeed, very of any kind of person--could give you.  But don't worry:  It still has to do with weird bikes.

One of the first things I noticed upon venturing out into the world as Justine is that--as I heard so many women complain--the lines to women's bathrooms are indeed longer than those for men.  This is especially true at the end of a showing or performance, or during intermissions.  

However, I have found one exception to this rule:  organized bike rides.  I have been on a few--including two Five Boro Bike Tours--since I began my transition.  Even events like 5BBT, which attract large numbers of families and more women than most bike rides, are ridden by far more male than female cyclists.  So, as you have guessed, the women's lines at rest stops are shorter than those for men.

Any guy (or gal, for that matter) who simply can't endure the wait might want to consider this:

From Jeremy Gadd