No bakfeits, Xtracycle. And those things can really cruise. A friend will be riding one halfway across the US on one soon because she feels it handles better and is easier to ride than her touring bike.
I know it isn’t bike-related but this is a bit of news you all may enjoy…
We adopted three, 8-week old, kittens this week.
We are enjoying listening to ‘The Dresden Files’ by Jim Butcher as read by ‘James Marsters’ (Spike in ‘Buffy’)
So we have named them ‘Harry’, ‘Murphy’ and ‘Thomas’.
They are endless fun and it is almost impossible not to have a smile on our faces because of their antics
After a week being kept in one (Fairly big) room, we are letting them roam around part of the house that has been ‘Kitten-Proofed’. So far, it is ‘explore a bit, run back to the familiar room. Repeat…
I wondered how they would cope with the stairs but so far, they are only a bit slower than the 2 adult cats, Sox and Jacob (My avatar)
Well, I need to shower and get back to keeping them company . . .
I love kittens! Their antics are a source of endless amusement. My two kids, Mr. Sox and Oreo, are tuxedos like your Jacob. They are adults now, 4 and 3 years old respectively, but they still play and amuse me. Oreo especially. She gets the 9 o’clock crazies on a regular basis and that is a merry romp for about 10 minutes. Great fun. Enjoy your new family members.
I used to train with a younger guy that had a baby seat on the back of his road bike. We’d go out for 25 miiles pushing 22+ and I’d be on his rear wheel chatting with his kid. Humbling!
Thanks for that Pops! You just brought back a memory that I had lost – In the 1950s, recovering from wartime poverty, My Dad rode a bike around. He had fitted a saddle on the crossbar and another on the handlebars. My big Sister and I were transported around thus wise for a few years. I have one visual memory that has just returned which has been precious to me all my life.
It was a sunny Saturday and the traffic was low as Dad rode into town with me on the handlebars. I remember the approach as we rode towards the ’5-ways’ junction near Coventry’s railway station. It was a policeman-controlled place in the day and with 5 busy main roads meeting, he had quiet a job to keep everyone safe. Luckily it was the early 1950s (Maybe 1952/3?) and there was far more good will and road-legal driving than these days as the only people who could afford to buy and run cars were rich/intelligent etc? So we approached the junction and seeing us coming the policeman stopped all 5 road traffic and waved us through unmolested!
I should point out that my had been a policemen and had recently been invalided from the force by being injured when apprehending some guys breaking into a shop. He suffered with epilepsy all his life as a result of being kicked in the head. The scar on the meninges put pressure on his brain bring epileptic attacks on. So maybe the policeman on duty had recognised him?
We sailed through without stopping which is always a good feeling for us cyclists, especially when we can not only do it legally but also with the blessing of others. Me being perched on the bars must also have helped of course
Yes, that is a full-size Coleman or Gott cooler/ice chest — full of containers of a “fluid replacement”, of course — on the back of the one bicycle, and a full-size BBQ grill/smoker on one of the others. along with the panniers and other impedimenta. Other members carry standard residential-quality component stereo systems, full-size speakers, etc. And at least in some of their early appearances on RAGBRAI, they actually rode TO the ride from Colorado.
As is compliant with the law in many jurisdictions, the kids appear to be wearing helmets. The only issue I take with this image is that it is awfully hard to get kids to do things that their parents don’t set the example, and visa versa (for example, kids of smokers are statistically much more likely to smoke themselves, etc…)
As a parent, I’d argue that the irresponsibility is not in failing to wear a helmet, per se, but in failing to set the proper example for the kids before they’re old enough to make truly responsible decisions for themselves, and thus encouraging a behavior that might be less safe, and is likely illegal for these kids for years to come.
I myself mostly ride without a helmet (though I own one and use it occassionally, for certain rides).
For some time, I used to wear it EVERYTIME when riding with our kids – to set an example etc., as has been already suggested here. Later on, I dropped this practice (for various reasons)… yet, as far as I can guess, the attitude of our children towards wearing helmets did not change. They never question the necessity to put it on, they just do it automatically before every ride, and most of them even “forget” to take it off during off-bike brakes etc.
It seems that they take it as a given fact – kids always wear helmets (as the law requires here, btw), the adults have the opportunity to choose for themselves. Same as, for example, with alcohol… kids never drink it, adults are allowed, but some of them choose not to…
Simple as that.
Since I started wearing a helmet, I’ve been the “only* person in my neighborhood who does. None of the kids, from teenagers on down to those barely big enough to balance a two-wheeler, wear helmets. I’ve about decided to quit wearing mine too, since I only started in order to please someone else, and that doesn’t seem like as a good a reason now as it once did. Besides, it feels rather hypocritical to wear a helmet when I don’t believe in them at all.
My “play bike” (trek 7200 fx) has the kid seat on the front, right behind the handle bars. MJ and I get to chat a lot, but I have often found her helmet resting on my arm because she has fallen asleep. Good times.
Wheel suck!
For a racer like Joe, that must be the ultimate embarrasment – a Bakfeits rider that has the wind to talk and whistle as well as keeping up with him!
No bakfeits, Xtracycle. And those things can really cruise. A friend will be riding one halfway across the US on one soon because she feels it handles better and is easier to ride than her touring bike.
Of course! I didn’t notice as I had just got out of bed…
Not just an Xtracycle, a Surly Big Dummy
Yup. Looks definitely like a Big Dummy. Awesome bike, by the way. I wish I had room to keep one.
I know it isn’t bike-related but this is a bit of news you all may enjoy…
We adopted three, 8-week old, kittens this week.
We are enjoying listening to ‘The Dresden Files’ by Jim Butcher as read by ‘James Marsters’ (Spike in ‘Buffy’)
So we have named them ‘Harry’, ‘Murphy’ and ‘Thomas’.
They are endless fun and it is almost impossible not to have a smile on our faces because of their antics
After a week being kept in one (Fairly big) room, we are letting them roam around part of the house that has been ‘Kitten-Proofed’. So far, it is ‘explore a bit, run back to the familiar room. Repeat…
I wondered how they would cope with the stairs but so far, they are only a bit slower than the 2 adult cats, Sox and Jacob (My avatar)
Well, I need to shower and get back to keeping them company . . .
Yeah, that looks like cat related
Try Yehuda Moon and Kitty Kible Petshop 
Dogs rule, by the way…
I love kittens! Their antics are a source of endless amusement. My two kids, Mr. Sox and Oreo, are tuxedos like your Jacob. They are adults now, 4 and 3 years old respectively, but they still play and amuse me. Oreo especially. She gets the 9 o’clock crazies on a regular basis and that is a merry romp for about 10 minutes. Great fun. Enjoy your new family members.
Where’s the Cat?!!!
my big dummy really rolls. and no i am not a wheel sucker. i would rather just pass joe and get it over with.
Try to think of yourself as a super-domestique. None of it happens without you.
I used to train with a younger guy that had a baby seat on the back of his road bike. We’d go out for 25 miiles pushing 22+ and I’d be on his rear wheel chatting with his kid. Humbling!
Used to do that, but the road hum would put my rugrat to sleep and I would have a helmet on my back…
Thanks for that Pops!
You just brought back a memory that I had lost – In the 1950s, recovering from wartime poverty, My Dad rode a bike around. He had fitted a saddle on the crossbar and another on the handlebars. My big Sister and I were transported around thus wise for a few years.
I have one visual memory that has just returned which has been precious to me all my life.
It was a sunny Saturday and the traffic was low as Dad rode into town with me on the handlebars. I remember the approach as we rode towards the ’5-ways’ junction near Coventry’s railway station. It was a policeman-controlled place in the day and with 5 busy main roads meeting, he had quiet a job to keep everyone safe. Luckily it was the early 1950s (Maybe 1952/3?) and there was far more good will and road-legal driving than these days as the only people who could afford to buy and run cars were rich/intelligent etc? So we approached the junction and seeing us coming the policeman stopped all 5 road traffic and waved us through unmolested!
I should point out that my had been a policemen and had recently been invalided from the force by being injured when apprehending some guys breaking into a shop. He suffered with epilepsy all his life as a result of being kicked in the head. The scar on the meninges put pressure on his brain bring epileptic attacks on. So maybe the policeman on duty had recognised him?
We sailed through without stopping which is always a good feeling for us cyclists, especially when we can not only do it legally but also with the blessing of others. Me being perched on the bars must also have helped of course
I love drafting a pack of roadies on my Big Dummy, especially with my daughter aboard.
LONGTAIL SIGHTING!!!
Now watch Joe get dropped by a tallbike, or a pennyfarthing. Or Yehuda!
Or somebody like these guys — Team Bad Boy from Colorado on a recent RAGBRAI.
http://markdangerchen.net/bikeusa/log/photos/badboy.jpg
Yes, that is a full-size Coleman or Gott cooler/ice chest — full of containers of a “fluid replacement”, of course — on the back of the one bicycle, and a full-size BBQ grill/smoker on one of the others. along with the panniers and other impedimenta. Other members carry standard residential-quality component stereo systems, full-size speakers, etc. And at least in some of their early appearances on RAGBRAI, they actually rode TO the ride from Colorado.
Leaving aside their pedal-power, I assume their wheels and spokes are made of.. kryptonite, perhaps?
ok please helmets!!!
No.
As is compliant with the law in many jurisdictions, the kids appear to be wearing helmets. The only issue I take with this image is that it is awfully hard to get kids to do things that their parents don’t set the example, and visa versa (for example, kids of smokers are statistically much more likely to smoke themselves, etc…)
As a parent, I’d argue that the irresponsibility is not in failing to wear a helmet, per se, but in failing to set the proper example for the kids before they’re old enough to make truly responsible decisions for themselves, and thus encouraging a behavior that might be less safe, and is likely illegal for these kids for years to come.
Obviously this is merely my opinion, and YMMV
I myself mostly ride without a helmet (though I own one and use it occassionally, for certain rides).
For some time, I used to wear it EVERYTIME when riding with our kids – to set an example etc., as has been already suggested here. Later on, I dropped this practice (for various reasons)… yet, as far as I can guess, the attitude of our children towards wearing helmets did not change. They never question the necessity to put it on, they just do it automatically before every ride, and most of them even “forget” to take it off during off-bike brakes etc.
It seems that they take it as a given fact – kids always wear helmets (as the law requires here, btw), the adults have the opportunity to choose for themselves. Same as, for example, with alcohol… kids never drink it, adults are allowed, but some of them choose not to…
Simple as that.
Since I started wearing a helmet, I’ve been the “only* person in my neighborhood who does. None of the kids, from teenagers on down to those barely big enough to balance a two-wheeler, wear helmets. I’ve about decided to quit wearing mine too, since I only started in order to please someone else, and that doesn’t seem like as a good a reason now as it once did. Besides, it feels rather hypocritical to wear a helmet when I don’t believe in them at all.
WOOT! A big dummy sighting…I swear by mine, most used bike in my stable!
My “play bike” (trek 7200 fx) has the kid seat on the front, right behind the handle bars. MJ and I get to chat a lot, but I have often found her helmet resting on my arm because she has fallen asleep. Good times.