Captain Don Chilly Willy, my hero and personal savior.
Vanilla ice cream on top of a root beer snow cone.
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| In Search Of... a razor, for that 'stache. Yick! |
If you recall, In Search Of... went deep undercover to discover the whereabouts of Pete's Bike Shop in Hazleton, only to discover a front for the Ransom Young 2012 election campaign. Then there was something about an alien sasquatch, Elvis' attempt to sabotage the investigation, and I don't recall too much after that, but that's not what matters. What matters is that bicycles don't seem to come with kickstands, anymore, and I don't know why.
In my investigations, I've uncovered a myriad of reasons for this oversight on modern bicycles. One possibility is that kickstands just aren't "aero." Another cites weight as a possibility. Then there's the argument that kickstands are "useless" and that, eventually, your bike is just going to fall over anyway.
Actually, my favorite theory comes from a bike forum user who asks, "Is it just a 'Fred' thing?"
Nail on the head, sir! Heaven forbid we look "uncool" in our skin-tight, day glow racing kits while propping our bikes up against walls, bushes, trees, homeless people or whatever else is most convenient at the time. Imagine being seen with a kickstand hanging from your chainstay... Sakes alive!
Personally, I kinda do really want a kickstand, but rather than purchase another aftermarket part to scratch up my paint job, I decided to go DIY on this problem. Presenting: The PVC Bike Rack.
Instructables user fuego316 describes the steps necessary to build a small, "apartment" sized bike rack. Well, after a quick trip to Lowes and a swipe of the ol' debit card, I managed to put this little beauty together:
The best part is, it cost less than $10, and only took about half an hour to complete. It seems pretty sturdy, so I feel like I can trust it to hold up my Precious. Meanwhile, I plan to get another length of pipe and some more fittings to build another one for the office. I'm actually quite proud of this!
And so, another episode of In Search Of... comes to a close, with us no closer to a definitive answer. Until then, the search continues!
Have you ever seen a dead porcupine? I mean, up close and personal and not simply a picture of one or an image on a screen? For that matter, have you ever seen a live one, frolicking in the wild? Do porcupines frolick?
Porcupines are frightening and bizarre creatures, when you think about it. "God's own pincushion" -- if such a deity actually exists. The quills, or spines, are actually hairs with a healthy dose of keratin that strengthens and binds them into sharp points that easily penetrate flesh. To get an idea of the toughness of this stuff, human fingernails are made of keratin, as is hair and the outer later of skin.
Contrary to popular belief, porcupines can't actually throw their quills, which is something I actually worried about, recently.
As a cyclist, I'm keenly aware of the hundreds of sharp objects that litter the shoulders of the roadways I travel each day -- broken bits of stone, plastic and glass. Now I have a new threat to face: porcupine quills.
I can only think of two times that I've seen a porcupine in person, and each time was from my perch atop a bike saddle. Also, each time, the porcupine was decidedly dead -- victims of automobile drivers, likely late at night, when visibility is low. Late last year was the first time that I can recall seeing one in the wild, and yesterday evening was the second time.
It was a bit unnerving when I realized what the bundled clump on the side of the road actually was. My feelings were a combination of desire and wary. Of course, I felt some sympathy for it, but I welcomed the chance to get a closer look at the creature without it scurrying away. As I approached, I was mindful to maintain a safe distance. I wondered if, perhaps, spontaneous nervous reaction could cause a few of the spines to be thrown my way, even post mortem. As I later learned, the spines don't work that way, and so, I had nothing to fear. However, the buzzing of flies and stench of rotting flesh caused my upturned nose to happily continue pedaling on its way.
If your quest is to see a porcupine in the flesh -- the rotting, putrefying, festering flesh -- I invite you to aim your bike along the southward lane of Route 309, heading away from Mountain Top. Eventually, you will have your wish fulfilled. (At least, until someone or something carries it off.) Just remember to steer clear of it. Porcupines ain't nothin' to mess with.
Read more
Porcupines are frightening and bizarre creatures, when you think about it. "God's own pincushion" -- if such a deity actually exists. The quills, or spines, are actually hairs with a healthy dose of keratin that strengthens and binds them into sharp points that easily penetrate flesh. To get an idea of the toughness of this stuff, human fingernails are made of keratin, as is hair and the outer later of skin.
Contrary to popular belief, porcupines can't actually throw their quills, which is something I actually worried about, recently.
As a cyclist, I'm keenly aware of the hundreds of sharp objects that litter the shoulders of the roadways I travel each day -- broken bits of stone, plastic and glass. Now I have a new threat to face: porcupine quills.
I can only think of two times that I've seen a porcupine in person, and each time was from my perch atop a bike saddle. Also, each time, the porcupine was decidedly dead -- victims of automobile drivers, likely late at night, when visibility is low. Late last year was the first time that I can recall seeing one in the wild, and yesterday evening was the second time.
It was a bit unnerving when I realized what the bundled clump on the side of the road actually was. My feelings were a combination of desire and wary. Of course, I felt some sympathy for it, but I welcomed the chance to get a closer look at the creature without it scurrying away. As I approached, I was mindful to maintain a safe distance. I wondered if, perhaps, spontaneous nervous reaction could cause a few of the spines to be thrown my way, even post mortem. As I later learned, the spines don't work that way, and so, I had nothing to fear. However, the buzzing of flies and stench of rotting flesh caused my upturned nose to happily continue pedaling on its way.
If your quest is to see a porcupine in the flesh -- the rotting, putrefying, festering flesh -- I invite you to aim your bike along the southward lane of Route 309, heading away from Mountain Top. Eventually, you will have your wish fulfilled. (At least, until someone or something carries it off.) Just remember to steer clear of it. Porcupines ain't nothin' to mess with.
...because the scumbag genie is just gonna screw it up; and probably on purpose.
"Why?" you ask, as if you've never had your order completely botched up by a hapless fast food worker, before. Except, in the stories I've read, the wish granter goes out of their way to completely screw you over. You wish for a million dollars? Great, your wish is granted -- a bag with a million dollars worth of stolen money drops into your lap and the cops are banging down your door. Should've been more specific, right? Wrong. It doesn't matter. The moral of the story is always, "you can't get something for nothing," and wishing is about as good as spitting in the wind. So what's with all the bitter cynicism? Read on.
There's a section of road that intersects with 940 in Hazleton with a short bridge that crosses a small creek. I'm not sure what the name of the road is, but it's the bridge next to the Churchill Mall, for locals who know the area. The pavement is a little uneven where the road meets the bridge, and I always get a stiff bump when I hit it. I usually have to slow down, which isn't preferable as I have to go up an incline immediately after. I found myself wishing the department of transportation (or whoever is responsible for this stuff) would fill in the gap a bit, just to make it a little smoother. Well, I guess the scumbag genie heard my request, because roadwork began a few weeks ago. And then it never ended.
They did this:
It was an incredibly rough surface to ride on -- I'm still searching for some of my teeth -- but it was quickly repaved and painted about 48 hours later. Woo-hoo! That is, except for a large section where the road meets the bridge and again up at the light, which are about as rough as the surface in the photo. In fact, the deep gap you see along the road in the photo is still there. In other words, it's much worse, now. Thanks a lot, guys! You took a minor inconvenience (for me, on a bicycle) and turned it into a big problem for everyone -- even people who drive have to stop before hitting these gaps. Weeks have gone by, and it's still there. Are you ever coming back to finish the job, or is this how the scumbag genie fulfills this wish? Thanks, but I liked it better before.
Meanwhile, this is happening in Pittsburgh:
Well Said, Cheryl. Pointless, confused and flat out wrong, but well said!
Here's a radical idea -- if you really want to stick it to the man, sell your car and ride a bike. No more road tax! No more high gas prices! A feeling of smugness that cannot be denied! Much more effective than letters to the editor...
I honestly wish there were a version of iPayRoadTax.com that applied to the United States, but I doubt it would help much. Actually, I just wish the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette would refrain from publishing stuff like this, but there I go, wishing again. Wish in one hand... you know what in the other.
Actually, forget all that, because this is also happening in Pittsburgh, and it's much cooler:
Carnegie Science Center is teaming up with The Bicycle Museum of America, Bicycle Heaven, and others to offer a diverse collection of historic, rare, peculiar, and all-around amazing bikes! Visitors will enjoy science demonstrations and hands-on exhibits that explore energy, forces and motion, engineering, and material science:
- Explore the evolution of the modern bicycle
- Check out uniquely customized bikes
- Learn about the latest technologies for sporting bikes
- See bikes you know from popular culture
On Saturdays through September, we'll spotlight a special bike-related outdoor activity along the riverfront trail. Activities are free with general admission.
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| Motha'. Effin'. Bicycles. |
In light of this revelation, I'm getting these big, crazy ideas about making a bike trip to Pittsburgh -- all 269 miles of it. That's not impossible. I just... I don't know. It's crazy. I think I'm crazy, and the more I think about it, the more I think I wasted my wish on lousy road construction. Come to think of it, if I want to get that road fixed, maybe I should write a letter to the Post-Gazette. Apparently, they'll print anything. Crazy.
Sometimes, it feels really good to tread old paths. I love going off on adventures, exploring new areas and seeing new sights, but after a wreck of a weekend, I just needed to get back that old feeling of pure joy that I had last year. Judging by how I'm feeling today, I was successful!
First of all, this weekend did NOT go as planned. I had intended to do some light cycling on Saturday and then head up to the Pedal & Paddle Fest in Prompton State Park on Sunday. Instead, I went to Moon Lake Park with some friends from Valley Cycles to ride the trails there on Saturday.
The worst part of the ride came towards the end; I was really beginning to lose my confidence. Instead of going all out and having a good time, I was trying to play it safe and avoid any obstacle that looked like it might be too dangerous. I lost count of how many times I slid sideways and was tossed off the bike, or lost my balanced and fell over. Then came the injury as seen in the picture to the right -- a result of my right foot slipping off the pedal. It's not as bad as it looks, but it hurt for a while.
After all that, I just needed to get back out there and get myself on familiar ground. On Sunday, instead of driving up to Prompton State Park for more trail riding, I chose an old, favorite route that I haven't been on since late last year. Going out Stockton Mountain Road to Route 93, then on down through Weatherly and up past the Lehigh Valley Gorge. I didn't have time to head down into the gorge, so I continued past the Weatherly Cemetery and up past Eckley Miner's Village and then home along Route 940. 2 hours and 29.3 miles later, I was feeling back on top.
Riding this route reminded me of the days when I had no plan and no agenda. I wasn't trying to make it to work on time and I wasn't trying to keep up with anyone else -- it was just me, with hours and hours to be alone with my thoughts. I could take time to feel the cool breeze on my skin while coasting along desolate roads lined with forests of evergreen that reach into the sky. Trees so tall, they easily block out the harsh rays of the sun and put you in the center of your own world. It was, and still is, the best therapy I've ever found.
Read more
First of all, this weekend did NOT go as planned. I had intended to do some light cycling on Saturday and then head up to the Pedal & Paddle Fest in Prompton State Park on Sunday. Instead, I went to Moon Lake Park with some friends from Valley Cycles to ride the trails there on Saturday.
As I've mentioned, I usually head up to Wilkes-Barre to ride with a group from Valley Cycles. This past Thursday was to be an extra special affair, as June 6 is also my birthday. (34 trips around the sun!) But, due to rain, a lot of folks either opted to ride trainers in the shop or just skip the night, altogether. I chose to skip.
After 2 days of raining, the trail was incredibly slippery. My rear tire could gain no purchase on the many rock gardens and tree roots along the trail. I'd get the front wheel up and over an obstacle only to get the rear wheel hung up as it would spin out and dump all the energy I put into each pedal. I just wasn't having a very good time.
I realize now that the Excalibur is too big for me. I had an extremely difficult time controlling it and ended up in quite a mess. I fell a few times, and I even ended going over the handlebars once as I tried coming down a rock formation and ended up going vertical. As I felt the back of the bike coming up off the ground, all I could was tuck and roll. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt.
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| Wet shoes + platform pedals = OUCH |
After all that, I just needed to get back out there and get myself on familiar ground. On Sunday, instead of driving up to Prompton State Park for more trail riding, I chose an old, favorite route that I haven't been on since late last year. Going out Stockton Mountain Road to Route 93, then on down through Weatherly and up past the Lehigh Valley Gorge. I didn't have time to head down into the gorge, so I continued past the Weatherly Cemetery and up past Eckley Miner's Village and then home along Route 940. 2 hours and 29.3 miles later, I was feeling back on top.
Riding this route reminded me of the days when I had no plan and no agenda. I wasn't trying to make it to work on time and I wasn't trying to keep up with anyone else -- it was just me, with hours and hours to be alone with my thoughts. I could take time to feel the cool breeze on my skin while coasting along desolate roads lined with forests of evergreen that reach into the sky. Trees so tall, they easily block out the harsh rays of the sun and put you in the center of your own world. It was, and still is, the best therapy I've ever found.
I woke up this morning to a brisk 49 degrees Fahrenheit. I thought we were over this! At any rate, I mounted my noble steed and made way for the office. I felt I had to, since this humble blog was declared the Blog of the Week on PA Live!, and it would just be awkward to be known as the guy who writes about cycling in North-East PA and then drives his car to work because, "It's a bit chilly out." So, I did that. I rode the bike today. That was me.
NEPA Blogs presents a new blog each week on WBRE's PA Live! in a segment that airs between 4 and 5 PM.
I feel like they nailed the description of my blog pretty accurately. As I go about commuting by bike, searching for thrills and adventures in Pennsylvania (and beyond, someday), I definitely enjoy documenting my trips and keeping an informative edge to things. I'd say it's also fairly accurate that the majority of my treks are solo and that, gee, it sure would be nice to meet a few fellow bike bloggers to network with. (Fortunately, Google+ has been a great place to meet quite a few bike commuters who love to share their adventures and advice.)
I'm looking forward to seeing the segment once it airs. Usually, the broadcast is recorded and published online after it airs, so keep this post bookmarked and I'll have the video linked here as soon as it goes online.
Update: Here's the link to the video that aired on WBRE's PA Live!
Read more
NEPA Blogs presents a new blog each week on WBRE's PA Live! in a segment that airs between 4 and 5 PM.
I feel like they nailed the description of my blog pretty accurately. As I go about commuting by bike, searching for thrills and adventures in Pennsylvania (and beyond, someday), I definitely enjoy documenting my trips and keeping an informative edge to things. I'd say it's also fairly accurate that the majority of my treks are solo and that, gee, it sure would be nice to meet a few fellow bike bloggers to network with. (Fortunately, Google+ has been a great place to meet quite a few bike commuters who love to share their adventures and advice.)
I'm looking forward to seeing the segment once it airs. Usually, the broadcast is recorded and published online after it airs, so keep this post bookmarked and I'll have the video linked here as soon as it goes online.
Update: Here's the link to the video that aired on WBRE's PA Live!
If you've been looking for a chance to get off the road for a while and enjoy some single-track trail riding, I've been informed that there's a big event going on this weekend at Prompton State Park.
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The Pedal & Paddle Festival is being held June 9th at Prompton State Park by the Friends of Prompton, and I'm pretty excited about the prospects, myself. I've never been to Prompton, so I'm eager to explore the area and see what they've got. It's been a long time since I've had the chance to get my wheels muddy, and this park promises at least 23 miles of trails.
As evidenced by the name of the event, kayaking is also supposed to be a big deal at Prompton. I can't say I've ever kayaked, unless you count buying plane tickets from Kayak.com. I've rafted along the rapids of the Lehigh River, jet skied on a lake, boated, canoed and hydroplaned across a wet road, but I've never been on a kayak. I'm sure I'm missing out.
If running is more your sport, however, please be aware that there's a trail run going on at Prompton the day before the Pedal & Paddle Festival on June 8th, dubbed the Prompton Punisher. Running really isn't my thing, but if it were, by God, I would have my iPod set to repeat "Run Through the Jungle" the whole 10, 20 or 30 miles (depending on the particular brand of punishment you desire.) Let's be honest, that would just end up being stuck in my head, anyway; I can't help it.
Before closing this blog post, I ask, "If gingers don't have a soul, what can be said for ginger beer?"
It is delicious, that's what. On Sunday, I decided to go on another ride through the valley to visit Stewart's Drive-In in Conyngham, PA.
Stewart's used to make their own brand of ginger beer, but I guess they stopped making it and decided to stock Big Ben's from Catawissa, PA, instead. I can't argue; it's just as good, and totally worth the trip.
Finally, and I'm not saying it's because of the ginger beer, but, that same morning, I totally beat my personal record going up one of the sections I ride often. It's true, I got the whole thing on Strava! Amazing, no? I'm almost better than no one, but at least I'm better than myself.
Speaking of Strava, I've accepted the "Junedoggle" (their word, definitely not mine) Challenge. The idea is to ride as much as possible in June, which was, pretty much, my MO all along. I mean, really, I was going to do that, anyway. But, seeing as how I love stats, Strava tells me that I'm currently ranked 19,040 out of 54,476 participants, which makes me feel better than at least 35,436 other riders. Woo hoo! See that? BETTER!
And now, as a reward for those who've read this far, a picture of Howdy Doody:
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| Note: Howdy Doody is a ginger. |
And whatever is happening here: