Throughout this blog, I've mentioned some of the many benefits of cycling.
This infographic depicts a few of them:
I have to admit: I got a kick (pun intended!) out of "puts a big fat smile on your face', "gives you legs of steel" and "the Earth sends a little extra love to those on bicycles (this is scientifally documented)".
Another benefit of cycling is that you find all sorts of neat webpages with cute graphics. On the same page (in Ecosalon) that featured the above graphic, I found this:
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!)
Happy Fourth of July, a.k.a. US Independence Day!
There have been many, many bikes, accessories and articles of bike clothing adorned with the American Flag--or, at least, its color scheme. (I wasn't about to spell "color" "colour" in a Fourth of July post!) Many, of course, are cheesy or tacky. But some are quite nice.
One is this US National Track team bicycle from the 1990s:
I think it would look good in almost any environment. But whoever took the photo really did the bike--and its setting--justice. I love the way the "smoke" seems to come out of the front wheel in the mural.
Ironically, that photo was taken in Williamsburg, Brooklyn: the home of the "hipster fixie". Somehow, though, I don't think that bike was ridden by any hipster.
Anyway...Enjoy the day--and wish me a happy birthday. (Yes, our Founding Fathers seceded from the Crown just to be sure my birthday would be a national holiday. It says that somewhere in the Constitution, I think.)
