After spending my whole voting life as a Democrat, I'm surprised to find that I'm now an independent. But when my party's candidate is a fuck up and I am willing to explore other options, I suppose that's what I am.
Huh. Weird.
I saw one of these today. All I could think was "Really?! You're enthusiastic enough to put that on your car . . . Really?"
Further evidence that I'm an alien living among a species that I cannot understand.
Thanks for the e-mails. I don't know whether Ms. Snyder, Denver's bike planner, signed off on the goofy detour that City Park is sending out.
One of the people involved in this effort hasn't heard from her in a couple days despite many e-mails. He's guessing she's being "a good team player."
I'm guessing she's James The Second. But we'll await developments.
A chance for Denver's Bike Planner to show that she can actually do something: Can she get another city agency that plans to block a major bike route to provide a safe and direct detour? We'll see.
I'm betting on cupcake and hoping I'm wrong.
City Park Construction Will Block Major Bike Route
It will only take one line and 5 minutes . . . . and it will help us all.
During museum construction, City Park is blocking off the park road that connects East HS, Steele, and Harrison with Montview and Monview's bike lanes. This will cut bike access to and from East High School as well as access from the south and west to Odyssey, Denver School of the Arts, Blessed Sacrament, Stapleton, and Fitzsimmons via the Montview bike lanes. It also will block one of the main commuter routes to [National Jewish,] south Denver and disrupt commutes east and west to and from downtown.
As of yesterday, though the fences blocking the road were going up, there was no plan for a bike detour. Today, there are more fences and still no bike detour plan.
Please send a short message to Britta Herwig, the City Park person, and Emily Snyder, Denver's bike planner asking what the plans for a detour are.
The message need not be more than a line. Just let them know that people care about bike routes.
Thanks!
Britta.Herwig@denvergov.org
Emily.Snyder@denvergov.orgHere's a museum person that might be worth adding as a cc:
Heather.Hope@dmns.org
I've mentioned City Park's wonderful bike planning before:
Denver's Heart-Stopping Bike Planning and Denver Detours Cyclists.
From Harper's.
I love Harper's. Don't always agree, but the essays often compel me to consider alternate ways of looking at the world. Cheap, too.
How to Beat Obama
Run as a Republican against the corporations and rich people that are preying on us.
That position has appeal across party lines and everywhere else. Plus, I can't see how Obama could credibly respond.
First, Obama won't say "I'm more against the corporate state than you are" because he doesn't believe it. And, even if he lied, his record doesn't support that position.
Second, if he throws "corporate sellout" stones at the Republican Party as a whole, the Republicans can throw the same stones back. The candidate can reach back to Republicans who actually were progressives. Voters will conclude that both parties are the same and vote for the individual who says he's different. Huntsman is already mentioning long gone Republicans that had brains as models on some issues.
Obama could end up running on the "corporations aren't so bad but I'm on your side" platform. And that would be accurate, amusing, and fatal.
Denver B-cycle needs your help!
Volunteer and get a 2011 t-shirt!
August 28th & September 10th
We are looking for enthusiastic members of the Denver B-Cycle community who are willing to serve as B-cycle ambassadors for two major cycling events coming up in the city of Denver. Your job will entail helping us successfully operate two fundraising components to these events. For the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, we will be operating a donation based bike valet near the finish line of the final stage of the race. For Tour de Fat, we will be operating a temporary B-cycle station and informing participants about a special fundraising effort that will be taking place that day through Chipotle.
All volunteers will be given a brand new 2011 Denver B-cycle t-shirt for their efforts and one B-cycle Buddy Pass good for a free 24 hour Access Pass to share with your friends and family. Those volunteering for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge will receive a USA Pro Cycling Challenge shirt as well. Those volunteering for Tour de Fat (who are 21 and over) will receive two free beer tokens for contributing their time and talent. To sign up just reply to this email and let us know which shift (or shifts) you would like to work and what size t-shirt you wear (we have men's & women's sizes)!
Volunteer shifts needed:
USA Pro Cycling Challenge Final Stage, August 28th, 14th & Colfax (Webb Building Station).
3 Volunteers: 7:30 AM - 10:30 PM
6 Volunteers: 10:30 PM - 1:30 PM
6 Volunteers: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
New Belgium's Tour de Fat, September 10th, City Park.
4 Volunteers: 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
4 Volunteers: 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Thank you so much! We hope to see you all soon!
Maybe they'll crater the economy twice in the decade my kids are graduating from college and looking for jobs.
And just when I thought I might be able to retire, too.
In the dark of the moon, in the flying snow, in the dead of winter,
war spreading, families dying, the world in danger,
I walk the rocky hillside, sowing clover.
-- Wendell Berry
Location
Edging away from the edge of American space
News and comments about tours, touring, & racing. Good things not seen elsewhere.
Many reviews, a DIY project or two, and some fun posts about biking.
A great, active blog.
The struggles of a fat guy on his way to middle age and the classic battle of the bulge. Against him, the entire agricultural and food production system, American Midwestern attitudes towards food and eating and a lifetime of sloth and drunkenness. His only weapon, his bike.
An exhilarating cycling blog. Formerly the authoritative site for Danish handball news and the bike porn contest (my entry was rejected), Freewheeling is a site I check out ever day.
Wonderful writing from a "bicycle obsessionist."
Sharp-witted cycling advocacy and photos
Kent Peterson is Issaquah’s Favorite Car-Free, Ultra Long-Distance Racing, Techie-Turned Mechanic
It's a magazine, newsletter, blog, and the mind boggles to think what else.
Charming, "fresh" writing about biking in University of Illinois Land.
Rick Smith's bikey comic.
Wrapped up effort to get a "share the road" vanity automobile license plate. In February 2008, failed to raise the maximum fine for running over a cyclist while the driver was failing to yield. (Bicycle Colorado was pushing for $1,000. Radical.)
Positive trajectory in doubt, trending back to ass-kiss mode. Too bad.
Denver shows why it's behind the curve. (I really didn't think this page could get worse . . . Wrong again.)
The most experienced mechanics in town and the most complete collection of tools and parts in the West. No place like it.
Last Friday of the month. Meet at Civic Center Park at the Seal Fountain pool between 5:30 and 6:00 pm.
The Denver Cruisers meet at the The Ginn Mill at 2041 Larimer Street every wednesday at 6:30pm, until September 30th.
Adventures in Local Living
Biking, Walking, and Public Transit in Denver, Colorado
A free, non-profit, collectively run community bicycle shop on the west side of Denver.
The world's first and only cruiser magazine has it's home right here in Denver. Aren't we the lucky ones!
A east side (Park Hill) non-profit bike place that encourages folks to build and fix their own bikes and gives them the tools and help to actually do it. Nice dedicated folks who seem to know what they are doing. (As befits a foundation-funded operation, the website description is opaque and baffling, but I've been there and it's a good place.)
Friendly, competent, and cool.
A large collection of articles and links on cycling and sustainability.
To inform and inspire. And it does.
(Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange) dynamic site promoting cycling as a viable and sustainable transportation choice.
"Explaining" cycling in cartoons. Works for me.
The NYTimes series on irresponsible, multitasking drivers.
The blog of the New York Streets Renaissance - advocacy in action - and as everyone knows, it happens in NYC first.
grassroots group that uses direct action and education to push for a sustainable NYC.
Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Though it's about cooking and food, I love the writing - snappy and downright . . . rollicking. Read this.
The Paris Review is a literary magazine featuring original writing, art, and in-depth interviews with famous writers. And its website is a collection of literary curiosities, fiction, and essays.
"I want to learn about sustainable agriculture, as much as I possibly can. . . . I plan to hop on my bike and head north, following the growing season in a giant loop around the country, stopping to learn and work . . . I imagine this will take about a year, maybe longer."
"[They] built the bikes, sold the house, got married, quit a job," and are cycling around Asia. They finished their tour in May 2010.
THE place for cycle tourists. If you are planning, dreaming, or riding a tour . . . .
David Byrne cycled around in the world in 1975. Now retired, he's doing it again. Why? "I can think of nothing better to do."
The best, most knowledgeable, compulsive person to talk to about panniers and racks is Wayne. Has any business, internet or brick and mortar, ever know so much and been so helpful about this stuff? His prices are great, too.
Movie stars and their self-propelled vehicles.
Fukuoka, Japan.
Interesting photos and descriptions of Japan. No bikes.
Bicycles and cycling in Japan from someone quite opinionated about Japanese cyclists and commuters.
No cycling here but a collection of glimpses of Asia, mainly Japan -- from baseball beer girls to beaches.
Calculates gearing in several useful ways and provides extra info like required deraileur capacity.
Lennard's Zinn's bike fit calculator. The link goes to the Road version.
Gardening in Denver from the staff Horticulturist with the Colorado State University Extension office in Denver. Good stuff.
