Snow is falling. At least, that's what the official weather reports say.
It's really more like white slush. But, I'll admit it looks pretty until it hits the ground.
Interestingly, it looks more snow-like when it clings to tree branches.
In The Waste Land, T.S. Eliot wrote, "Winter kept us warm, covering Earth in forgetful snow." It's not hard to see what he meant: For a moment, I can actually forget that leaves have died and fallen from that tree.
I also can forget, for a moment, that one day this tree, and the one in the first photo, will be green again. Or, at any rate, I have--however temporarily--no need to remember that.
It's Super Bowl Sunday. I'll admit I'm not the biggest football fan in the world, though I've been known to watch a game or two. I'll also admit that I've had a soft spot for the San Francisco 49ers for a long time, from years before they won their first Super Bowl. They came so close to making it to the Big Game this year!
Anyway, I found out that many of their players ride bicycles for fun and as part of their training regimens. I can't say I'm surprised. I tried to find some photos if for no other reason that I'm curious to know what kinds of bikes such big guys ride.
I didn't find any photos of 'Niners on bikes. However, I found this image of Green Bay Packers riding to training camp wo years ago:
For what it;s worth, I'm rooting for the Seahawks because hey beat the 'Niners in the conference championship team. When one of my favorite teams or athletes loses in a playoff, I root for the team or player that beat them. That way, if they win, I know that my favorites at least lost to the best.
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.
