We Can Still Ride Our Bikes!

I was having a conversation with a friend on our ride to work after Trump was elected, and it was pretty grim. We talked about all the many many bad things that are likely to happen to our state, our country, our environment, our economy, and we were pretty hopeless. But then I just sort of blurted out “Well we can still ride our bikes!” A smile spread over both our faces and in the days since it has been our rallying cry.

WE CAN STILL RIDE OUR BIKES!

It has given us something to start with, something to work from, a place to stand while we figure out what we do next.

Today our lovely senator Elizabeth Warren let loose this barn burner of a speech and I feel even better!

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Fun With Math: Bicycle Edition

Bikes are a surprisingly effective way to teach tricky physics.

For instance, did you know you wouldn’t be able to steer a bicycle in zero g?

When you were learning to ride a bicycle you thought gravity was your enemy, trying to make you fall over. But without gravity, you wouldn’t be able to steer, say Cornell engineers. To demonstrate the concept, they built a hybrid vehicle they call a “bricycle” – a cross between a bicycle and a tricycle – that demonstrates what it would be like to ride a bike in zero-G. (Assume you have magnetic wheels to keep you on the floor.) (via)

Watch the video for a full demonstration on just how hard it would be to steer a bicycle in zero g.

You might also find this interesting. If you were to pull straight backwards on the lower pedal of a bicycle which way would the bicycle go?

Seems simple…right?  Think you know the answer? Click here to see a demonstration. Did you guess correctly?

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Pretty Much How I Felt All Winter

Nothing better than a bicycle to get just about anywhere in this town, I guess if you live farther north you need to make a bit of an adjustment to the front wheel…  Plus the song is cute.

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Suffering

Biking can and is fun and enjoyable, blissful even. The wind in your hair, the sweet smell of the trees, the laugh of your biking companions. It can be really nice. But not always. Sometimes being on a bike is pure hell.

I have never been the kind of person that gives names to things, my computer is called, computer, my pets get rotating names, when I did own a car it was just “car.” In fact the only thing I ever gave a name to was my aluminum fixed gear track bicycle, its moniker of choice “little murder machine.” Its number one victim, me.

Let me explain the draw backs of Little miss murder. She’s stiff, transferring every little bump right into your hind quarters. Shes compact, forcing you into an uncomfortable hunched position. Shes only got one speed, and you can’t coast. Going up hill you mash your brains out, going down you are at spin class.

There is one important plus of the murder machine. Shes fast as hell. That aluminum frame is light, and that stiffness transfers all your power right into the wheel. That hunched up position makes you aerodynamic. And only one gear means you only have to worry about one thing, going faster.

I am not sure if there is something wrong with my brain, but I love to hurt on a bike, specifically this bike, my little murder machine. A couple of weeks ago I rode miss murder to Provincetown, 144 miles in a single day. It hurt, and I loved it. I regularly go out for 20-30 mile sprints where I try to average 20 miles per hour or faster the entire time. It hurts, it hurts bad. I love it even more.

Pushing yourself to your limits hurts, your back creaks, your arms ache, your legs scream, your lungs feel like sandpaper, but somehow when its all done you feel great. Its like some primitive ritual, cleansing yourself of everything but the desire to make yourself go further, or faster, or harder.

Yesterday I took advantage of the July 4th holiday to get some alone time on my bike. It was about noon when I rolled out of the house, the sun was blazing and I already felt like a wilted piece of lettuce. It was going to be one of those rides.

30 miles and 1 hour 15 minutes later I was back at my house, red as a beet, panting, and smiling like an idiot. My arm left a sweaty sun screen tattoo on the storm door, and I couldn’t get into a cold shower fast enough. 30 minutes later I felt glorious. Even my hair seemed to feel better. I was hollowed out of everything bad, and all that was left was a lovely feeling of floating.

Suffering on a bicycle is something you learn to love. Like coffee, or beer, its an acquired taste, and just like coffee or beer there are subtle and fine distinctions to the suffering. Only after long practice will you be able to detect the minuscule differences in pain afforded to you from different kinds of rides. The more orchestral tones of a long distance pain fest, vs the acidic bite of a short high speed ride.

Bikes are lovely inventions, and most of the time they are a source of joy and happiness, but for the few that have learned to love the suffering, nothing on earth provides it better than a bicycle. It is the most efficient machine ever invented for causing suffering to a human being, and I love it. My little murder machine is still my favorite bike.

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Bicycle Bound Weed Delivery Man Brings Peace And Joy (Watch This)

The adventures of a bicycle bound weed delivery man High Maintenance is amazing.. I have been watching these all morning, and I have to tell you they are really really good. I would suggest you set aside an hour and watch them all. The main character is sort of like a bicycle bound wizard moving from apartment to apartment spreading good cheer (both deliberate and inadvertent), while helping people gain insight into their lives.

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