Bikes and Flower Gardens Do Go Together

The Midtown Greenway is still a work in progress, but every year more gardens spring up along it's route. Take some time, to take in the scenery on your rides. The Chai Cyclist is back.

Happy Spring!

Okay, One Last Post for the Winter

Gotta get the kitty litter!

Plus, I picked up groceries and a pizza, putting them on the front rack. Frankie rides so stable when loaded down. The bike doesn't even feel like it could fall down, __but I'm sure it could.

Imagining Winter at Iciclebicycle

Becomes Reality

After blog hiatus, it's time to move over to iciclebicycle. Winter is a whole different world, but that does stop me from riding my bikes. It just means you have to be a little bit smarter, a little bit braver and put some long underwear on so you don't freeze your ass off.

Long Shadow Time

Bike path Hazard.

Long shadows mean hurry up and gather some food for these guys.

Shadows, leaves and bike.

Shadow time is a time for me to have fun shooting dramatic pictures.

Superman for a Day

Whizing past Lake Calhoun on Midtown Greenway.

Ever have those days where riding your bike is too easy? Where you're in higher gears than normal and doing it with ease? Or the ability to kick it up a notch and make that light?

Well, that was my Monday. For whatever reason(Light riding on Sunday or a good nights rest?) I had all the energy needed and the drive I wanted, which made riding effortless. It made for a pleasant ride to work, especially on the hilly part of my ride. Not downshifting until halfway up a hill is unusual, but welcome. I normally avoid trying to put the hammer down on my ride out, because I'll sweat too much and freeze on the windier second half of my trip. Luckly, there wasn't much wind that morning and I could go as fast as my Dutch would let me.

As if things couldn't get much better, a strong wind picked up from the Northwest in the afternoon and blew me all the way to Uptown on my ride to dinner. Gotta love the wind at your back. I start to think maybe it could be this way all the time, but thought I'd better just chalk it up to a good day. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Much empathy for this poor soul riding against the gale.

This morning it was back to reality. The hills were steeper and my legs were burning. But it was still a nice ride, just slower.

Did They Have Bikes in Charles Dickens Day?

Tweed, Frankie and suitcase?

For me, Halloween is a lot of fun, if I get motivated to figure out something fun to wear ahead of time. The hardest part for me is starting with nothing and getting to something cool. I often put off the costume hunt until the last moment and have to scramble for something, anything decent. This year, having the Dutch bike helped things out a lot. I knew I'd be riding Frankie wherever I went, so going Tweed was the obvious choice. It ended up being a very good choice, considering the rain and snow of Friday night. I was almost over dressed. Too bad I couldn't convince anybody else to ride with me this year. They don't know what they were missing.

I am finding that Frankie, my bike of 3 months, has been shaping the clothes that I wear out around town. It just doesn't feel right putting sporty, cycle wear on when riding Frankie. It's much funner to putting something interesting on. As the temperature drops wool will be perfect.

Oh, what's the case on the front rack for? Mostly decoration. I just think it looks cool on Frankie. I did get a lot of questions about it, but I just made that part of the fun, by not answering. The case may end up being practical, because it's a projector case and is insulated. I may end up using it for carrying things that need protection from the cold, such as my laptop, or even hot food.

Once Weened Twice Smitten

Stop thief!

Fixie Eric goes Dutch.

I really love letting people give it a ride because it's so different than any other ride. Eric couldn't get over how the front rack doesn't move with the tire. You get used to it.

Goulishness!

No pictures of my get up, yet. Perhaps it's not such an original costume for the likes of me, but I think you'll approve. I have another chance tonight. Nice thing about Saturday Halloween is Friday means to nights of fun.

Dramatic Change to Downtown Bike Lane Worries Me

I new that there were going to be changes to some of the main downtown streets. Hennepin and 1st Avenue where to return to 2 way traffic. I didn't know what would happen to the bike lane on Hennepin, but was hopeful it would remain. I wasn't ready for what happened, though. My first ride down the new street had me gasping. What happened to the bike lane? Then I started to get mad. How is this progress? What's improved about this? My temper grew after talking to a friend who had been to a few Hennepin County meetings. She said that drivers had complained about being afraid of the bikes being in the middle of the road. "They're afraid of little puny bikes?!" I said. "I was hoping their fear would cause them to drive more cautiously". At one of the meetings she had asked the members if any of them rode bikes. Nobody raised a hand. After talking to her, I was furious. My thought was basically they were giving cyclists the shaft and returning the streets to 1980's conditions.

Where'd the bike lane go?

The Dream.

Hennepin before change. Bike lane in between buses and cars.

When I got home I did a little research and found that it wasn't exactly as I had imagined it. But it still isn't complete, which has all the cars using it like it's their lane. I found a video that explains how it's supposed to work and website describing the changes to Hennepin and 1st Ave.

And I didn't even get to 1st Ave, yet. That's real interesting.

The new 1st Avenue.

The Rules.

Strange New Bike Comes to My Town

Today, I was biking on out of downtown when I saw a bike a ways in front of me that looked interesting. He seemed to be taking his time, climbing the slight, but still formidable Nicollet Avenue hill. As I approached him, I was mostly thinking about peddling up this hill. A guy passes me, and says "nice bike!". I say "Thanks!". When he passes the mystery bike, he does a double take. That's when I realized that this really was a special bike. When I came up next to him, I said "Bakfiets!"

Frankie meets Mr. Bakfiets.

"Yes", he says. Then he does a double take when he looks down at what I'm riding. Ahh! it all makes sense! We continue riding up Nicollet, chatting and blocking traffic sometimes. I find out that Paul has been riding his Bakfiet for about a month ago and has been loving it(No surprise). His plan was to just use it for hauling groceries and other things, but has ended up riding it all the time, because...because it's so much fun, of course. He bought it at the same shop as I did Frankie, Dutch Bike Chicago. He was more enterprising and found a micro-hauler on Craigslist that hauled it up to the twin towns for $120. He saved himself even more money by buying last years model.

At the top of the hill we parted, but not before I got his email address(Good to keep in touch). I rode away happy knowing there's one more cool bike in town, and hopeful that the Bakfiets won't be a strange sighting in Mpls. for much longer.