The photos say it all – a new pair of Schwalbe Delta Cruiser Rlx Tire-Wire Bead, Cream, 26 x 1 3/8-Inch Sports tyres (at $58.86 pair delivered) installed on a 1974 Raleigh Sports . . . and they glow in the dark. Even our local Tweed Ride Leader was rendered speechless.
(If you’re also green about that 11.5-inch Sunlite mirror, check it out.)
A small group “met up” on a soon-to-be-sizzling Saturday at 9 AM in Washington Park to ride the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail to Troy’s outstanding Farmers Market. After cruising around the wide selection of goodies and groceries, a couple of us stopped in at the Fence Show at the Arts Center of the Capital Region to see the 555 entries. Don’t wait – the salon style show will end on 6/16 to be followed with the chosen 50 pieces to be exhibited in the “Fence Select.” While the “select” show is nice, seeing all the varied entries in many media displayed wall to wall and ceiling to floor is a real treat.
Following our visit to the Famers Market, we rode a couple blocks over to the Troy Daily Grind to present a framed photograph of last year’s Daily Grind-Daily Grind ride (see photo from 2012). The owner, Barrye, our host in years past and again for the to-be-announced 2013 ride, graciously asked the on-duty counter staff to pose for the presentation with ride leader Keith and rider Roberta. The “5th Annual” 2012 ride was a family first with young participants Indiana (pictured) and Theo (aged two at the time) who met up with us in Troy.
The 2013 Daily Grind ride will be in early-mid August.
We had a nice cruise back to Albany on a shady bicycle trail followed by a slow climb up the hill to Washington Park.
Filed under Comings and Goings, Local Bike Rides, Rides
After Sandy wiped out much of the equipment and with much complaining about the placement of the pick-up/drop-off stations, New York City’s bicycle share is off to a good start with thousands already signed up. Initially, there are to be 10,000 bicycle and 600 stations located in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn.
Every cyclist’s heroine, Janette Sadik-Khan, transportation commissioner, stated for the NY Times, “We have the A train, and we have yellow cabs, and we have the Staten Island Ferry, and today, Citi Bike joins the ranks of the transportation icon family in New York City” (see the article for some good photos of Day #1).
NYC’s program is easily the largest in the country and undoubtedly will enhance the city’s chances of moving up in the bicycle friendly community standings. It is currently designated by the League of American Bicyclists as “silver” (with “gold” and platinum” as next steps). While Albany is in the “honorable mention” bicycle friendly community category (and there may be others in the state at this level), the only other city in NYS in the official list is Rochester.
If you haven’t heard enough already, check out the “commuter challenge” conducted by the NY Times on Monday.
Filed under Article, City Review, Feature, Local Bike Rides
It is always nice to hear that someone is so happy with a new bicycle that she wants to share the news with others. We here have the latest sent in by a young professional who is balancing her two children (one also quite “new”), a career, bicycle advocacy, and, hopefully, some ride time.
So watch for this new purple cruiser and give a wave!
Filed under Article
Dear Australian driver, who pulled down your windscreen and yelled “Get out of the way!” while I was on my way to work this morning:
I’m just writing to deeply apologize… for giving you the finger. Seriously, that was very immature of me, and I don’t know why I did that…(!)
I’ve been riding this road for several weeks, and no other driver has ever showed bad behavior as you did to me, not even the slightest. Contrary, we all try to do our best in traffic, and it’s been going great so far. It’s an amazingly beautiful commute that I do almost every day. When you and I met this morning, the road was empty of cars and I kept a little to the left, so you could easily overtake me if you wanted. So I was very surprised and chocked of your manners.
After some thinking, I realised you must be one of those people who has a massive aura of negativity around you and get annoyed with things that no one else cares about. Your life must really suck because of this. You might have had a really bad morning – but you seem to be the only one during my commutes so far who takes it out on other people in traffic. You might be one of those people who drives a shiny car, but lacks everything else. Like love and happiness. Which make me feel really sorry for you.
And I figured there must be something severely wrong with you and/or your life, when you didn’t stop at the STOP sign either (STOP means “stop”). I guess that’s what really upset me and made me act like a baby. It scared me that someone like you drive around on our streets without following the simplest of rules. (Perhaps you ignored this important rule as you realised that if you’d stop, I’d end up right next to you. But seriously, I’m not dangerous, and you’re an adult who should be able to stand up for yourself, right?)
Anyhow, despite your illegal, rude and dangerous manners, I shoudn’t have responded the way I did! Giving you the finger probably won’t give back your hope for humanity, and it certainly doesn’t makes you a happier person or a more respectful driver. I guess it is true what they say, that people’s bad energy and behavour is contagious: you really brought out the worst in me. Which is actually quite amazing that you did, because nothing bring me such joy (regarding how my mornings are) as choosing to ride to work by bike. Perhaps you should try it sometime.
Anyhow. Next time you pull down your window and yell at me, I’ll promise that I’ll give you a big smile and a friendly waive, perhaps a lollie too. You if anyone really needs it.
Once again, I’m really sorry.
Kind regards,
Elin xx
Albany Bicycle Coalition 