I like bikes

What the hell is Pinterest?

2012-02-16T15:58:00.000-07:00

I suspect it's yet another time suck, thus I am reluctant to investigate.

Anyone, anyone?

It's a happy day for my ass

2012-02-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

This arrived today:

After years of denying it, I now admit that I have a decidedly female butt. One that prefers the contours of a women's specific saddle. So now I get to replace my boy saddles with girl saddles. Well, a few of them, at least--cripe, I'm not made of money.

I'm not sure which bike this will go on, but no doubt it will look lovely on whatever ride it graces.

And the best part? I got a good deal on it on the 'bay plus I had a gift card. Can't beat that for a saddle that will last a lifetime. Too bad I don't have any appreciative heirs to pass it to, but that's another issue.

Pasta Carbonara

2012-02-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

I have had this recipe on my list of things to make for weeks. I don't know why it took me so long to make it, because it most certainly wasn't difficult. But I had a little extra time on my hands tonight, so I decided to get cookin'.

The recipe came from Urban Vegan. Recipe here. It's definitely comfort food and just what I wanted. I tend to console myself with food, and I've been craving a big bowl of comfort lately. This dish filled the need splendidly and I'm finally satisfied. On a culinary level, at least.

Driving annoyances

2012-02-12T17:34:00.002-07:00

I believe that I've already covered that, due to life circumstances, I'm driving a whole lot more than I used and more than I'd like. And I am not happy about that. We all have our auto-oriented peeves, and one of mine was driven home (pardon the pun) yet again this afternoon.

I swear, it NEVER fails that when I'm making a left turn (in those instances where there isn't an arrow), a big-ass SUV pulls into the opposing left turn lane, such that I can't see a damn thing around its hulking presence. Do fat SUVs just make an inordinate amount of left turns, is it my dumb luck, or is there a preponderance of SUVs in Colorado? My guess is it's the latter. Gotta have that enormous SUV to take the kiddies to the zoo on Sunday so you can look rugged while trolling for a close-in parking spot.

Snow Moon ... over West Bay

2012-02-08T17:20:00.001-07:00

Snow Moon ... over West Bay, originally uploaded by Ken Scott.

Snow moon, minus the snow! I think we are having Michigan's winter here in Colorado.

Nonetheless, wish I could have seen this one in person.

The more things change

2012-02-01T08:33:00.003-07:00

Interesting, as I was entering the labels for my last post, "red lentil thai chili" came up as having already been entered. Upon further investigation, it appears that it's a recipe rerun! Almost a year to the day I posted the same recipe with decidedly different results. I have no idea what happened--did my tastes change or was there a difference in preparation? It appears the only difference is the quantity of red curry paste used. Maybe it's actually better with half the amount. Who knows, but it's quite odd.

Back to the food

2012-02-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

In the time I have been away (or partially away) from this blog, I've tried to think about what I've wanted the blog to be, as well as my love-hate relationship with social media. When I started the blog, I think there was that small inkling that maybe it would turn into something more--that it might lead me on the path to fame and fortune or at least lift me out of complete obscurity. Clearly that did not happen, although I do profusely thank all 6 of you who actually read this blog.

I think part of the issue has been that I haven't had a consistent theme. You know, I'm not cooking my way through a Julia Childs cookbook, pedaling across the continent or doing something grand. It's just me and my random thoughts and very small doings. I've decided that's okay and I'll keep doing the same thing until the grand idea strikes me.

I don't have much free time these days, and when I do, my inclination is to spend time in the kitchen. It relaxes me and brings me comfort. So I will do that, and take some pictures and share recipes. No doubt my readership wishes that I'd take an interest in food photography in order to improve the quality of the pictures posted here, but one step at a time, people. Maybe I'll get there, maybe I won't.

So, noteworthy in the last week was Red Lentil Thai Chili (a better pic and recipe is posted there) from the Post Punk Kitchen.

It was magnificent! I didn't have enough red curry paste on hand, but it was still fantastic with the amount I had (about half of what the recipe called for). I'm really looking forward to making this again with the correct amount of curry paste and then it will pop! It makes a huge amount, too, so you'll have plenty to last you the week or to freeze for later.

Lessons learned early

2012-01-24T16:19:00.000-07:00

I can't remember exactly how, but I definitely knew that touching the thermostat was something I was NEVER to do.

Uh-huh

2012-01-23T07:15:00.002-07:00

Cornflower blue

2012-01-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

Always my favorite in the Crayola box. Ran across this lovely piece of prose via my friend Ken:

Cornflower blue, deeper than the evenin' sky
peaceful as a river, bluer than goodbye
Blue like a diamond, when the light shines true
If love came in colors, then I'd choose this one for you

~Eric Bogel

Can you ever have too much coffee?

2012-01-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

Well, yes, as I have experienced lately. I don't know why I've been consuming so much coffee recently, but at least I'm not at this point just yet.

If I was so inclined...

2012-01-11T18:54:00.002-07:00

to get (another) tattoo, I might get something like this:

I triple dog dare you

2012-01-05T09:57:00.001-07:00

New Yehuda comics AND a reference to "A Christmas Story?" My life is already much improved in 2012.

Yehuda's back!

2012-01-02T21:09:00.001-07:00

Things are looking up for 2012!

Welcome back, I have missed you. Please don't go away again.

Coolest t-shirt ever

2011-12-25T18:26:00.001-07:00

I am stylin'.

Handmade local goodness

2011-12-20T14:13:00.001-07:00

Made by my friend Gregory Crichlow at Chocolate Spokes Bike Studio. It's not only gorgeous, it rides like buttah.

This'll make your palms sweat

2011-12-19T15:14:00.000-07:00

And if it doesn't, there is something wrong with you.

Why, yes, thank you

2011-12-19T07:37:00.001-07:00

Ran across this on the Fixed Gear Gallery Forum (the source of all worthy information in my life):

I recently spent a week (my first time) in The Netherlands. I got to see a fairly broad swath of the country, from cities like Amsterdam and Eindhoven to the fruit growing farm villages of Betuwe. EVERYWHERE I went, bicyles are just part of the landscape. It's just how people get around. Yes there are cars, lots of them. Plenty of them are big and there are even SUVs. But the roads have bike lanes (that seem to work) and the people riding aren't making statements, they're just going to work/school/etc.

So what in the actual fuck is wrong with people in this country? No one's freedoms are being trampled in Amsterdam. No one's capitalism is limited. Please give me a society with some REALLY BIG FUCKING GOVENMENT, big enough to tell people who don't want bikes to get in the way of their Jag to fuck off, suck it up and just be happy they even have a road to drive on at all.

So, sign me up for some really big fucking government. I will be there with my bike. Thanks for the sentiment, nothingpop, you said it well.

A little something

2011-12-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

The Windward Shore by Jerry Dennis - Book Trailer from Stone Hut Studios on Vimeo.

I am just starting this book and am loving it so far. The video shows but a smidgen of what makes the Great Lakes so special.

Maybe just one more

2011-12-08T19:42:00.001-07:00

So you wanted to take a break...

2011-12-08T16:53:00.001-07:00

On hiatus for a bit. I will leave you with this:

And, no, I did not get dumped. It's just the song from which the lyric was lifted.

And a beer in a tree

2011-12-01T18:05:00.001-07:00

When we used to be skinny

2011-11-30T18:00:00.001-07:00

And the world was a much dirtier place to live, apparently.

Colfax Avenue in Denver, circa 1972. I know right where this picture was taken

Where the Conoco and Sinclair signs are in the above picture is where you'll now find this (the bank sign with the time and temp is still there):

Have things improved in 40 years? I should go snap the the same picture one of these days to compare and contrast.

Anyway, fascinating picture series from the Atlantic. The 70's were a lot more bleak than I remember! But of course, I was anywhere from 2-12 years old during that decade, so my perceptions of that time period are skewed.

Another great find from IBikeMPLS.

T-day redux

2011-11-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

Sadly, the Thanksgiving leftovers are slowly disappearing. The stuffing, rice loaf and green bean casserole bid adieu on Saturday evening. So, I made perennial favorite chickpea cutlets last night, which provided a good stand-in for the turkey approximation. Slather it and the remaining mashed potatoes in round 2 of gravy (use broth instead of water if you try this recipe) and prepare for yet another food coma.

Pie is gone too. It's probably for the best...

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T14:38:00.001-07:00

From the left, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rice loaf and green bean casserole--most of it covered in mushroom gravy. The cranberry salad does not appear, as I do not like it touching the other stuff on my plate. There's a time for sweet and a time for savory, and they are definitely separate on my Thanksgiving plate. And the requisite bubbly with the meal.
Had a couple of firsts this Thanksgiving--this version of green bean casserole made its first appearance. It was easy and delicious, so that one is a keeper. It doesn't have mushrooms in it, as most green bean casseroles do, but that made it even more appealing since we had mushroom gravy and mushrooms in the stuffing. Not that it's ever possible to over-mushroom anything, but I didn't want to inadvertently go overboard on them. Crisis averted. And, we made the stuffing using stale bread cubes instead of the prepared stuff like Pepperidge Farms. Definitely highly recommended! We used a hybrid of a few recipes for hints on seasoning, etc., so I don't have a recipe to share on that one.
The pie was stupendous, as well, served with espresso.

Thankful, indeed.

Just ride

2011-11-24T09:33:00.001-07:00

But do not throw your bike into the bushes afterward.

Mental Fixed from LuMax Video on Vimeo.

T-day preps

2011-11-23T18:31:00.001-07:00

Pie! I'm bucking convention and making cherry pie for Thanksgiving. I haven't had much success with vegan pumpkin pies, and I like cherry better anyway. I was inspired by Vegan Pie in the Sky. I'm not very experienced with pie crusts, as evidenced by my sub-par crust crimping.

The proof is in the pudding, or so they say. We'll find out tomorrow how it tastes.

Clark swims in Lake Michigan

2011-11-17T10:03:00.001-07:00

Here's a little video of Clark looking for salmon in Lake Michigan. He's a funny guy, that Clark.

Michigan fix

2011-11-17T09:15:00.001-07:00

KAScott_20111113_5194fhenb, originally uploaded by Ken Scott.

This picture lifted my spirits this morning. Good stuff!

Cozy

2011-11-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

There's something about setting the clocks back every fall that makes me feel all warm and snuggly inside. I hate that the days are getting shorter and it gets dark so early, but all of that darkness makes it acceptable for me to spend some quality time in the kitchen without guilt.

Tonight I made Cream of Mushroom Soup. I got the recipe out of a book, but I can't remember which one. So, no issues if I share the recipe, right?

2 T. nondairy butter
1 T. olive oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
3 stalks celery, finely chopped
2 large oyster mushrooms, finely chopped
1 lb. white mushrooms, coarsely chopped
2 t. dried parsley
2 t. dried or fresh thyme
1 1/2 c. dry white wine
4 c. vegetable stock
1 c. walnuts
salt and freshly ground pepper

In a large soup pot, heat the nondairy butter and oil together over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add the carrot and celery and cook for 5 minutes longer.

Lower the heat, and add the mushrooms, parsley and thyme. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the wine and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid reduces and the alcohol cooks off.

Add the stock and stir. Reduce the heat to low and cover.

Add the walnuts to a blender and add just enough hot water to cover. Let stand 5 minutes. Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy. Ladle 2-3 cups soup from the pot into the blender and blend until smooth (or you can puree the entire soup).

Stir the pureed walnut mixture into the soup pot and heat through. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Before the addition of the walnut puree:

Walnut puree. If you don't have a Vita Mix, get one!

After the walnut puree:

It's dinner

I also made the Post-Punk Kitchen's chocolate pudding pie. Recipe and pics here. Mine turned out okay, but it didn't set up as well as I'd like and didn't plate well enough for a picture. However, it was good enough to consume! I'll add more chocolate chips next time, as it wasn't as chocolatey as I would have liked. Still, it was an easy and satisfying dessert.

The soup gets a thumbs-up, as well. Anything with mushrooms in it has a very good chance of getting the thumbs-up from me. I would have liked this soup to be thicker, though, so I'd make the walnut puree thicker or maybe add some roux. I am looking forward to my soup and pie leftover lunch today!

Hybrid Sunday

2011-10-31T12:56:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm back among the living, although I am still trying to come to grips with post-vacation life. Trip report to follow, eventually.

So, I couldn't make up my mind this week between a soup and sandwich, so I made both. Not sure if I'll revert to Soup Sunday, stick with sandwiches or just do whatever the hell I want. Probably the latter. There will be a recipe of some sort featured from the Sunday meal, how'z that?

We returned from vacation to find quite a few ripe tomatoes still on the vine! That was indeed a welcome surprise. We also picked about 40 unripe tomatoes and wrapped them in newspaper to ripen them in the house. We'll see how that turns out. Either way, that leaves me with a lot of tomatoes to work with. And, given that I can't seem to get over my mental block regarding canning, I have to figure out something to do with them. So, this week I made roasted tomato soup. I believe the soup has been featured here before, but too bad, I'm doing it again.

Recipe is here. I made it pretty much to spec, although I did add cashew cream and red pepper flakes to give it some spice.

Veggies roasting:

After the immersion blender:

A little lighter in color after the addition of the cashew cream:

I also made Black Bean and Corn Burgers. Recipe here. Isn't this just the saddest looking burger you've ever seen?

After making pumpkin bread in addition to the soup and burgs (my idea of a day of kitchen bliss, were it not for the mess), I wasn't much in the mood to fancy up the burger. Slap it on a bun with some Vegenaise and eat. The picture doesn't do the burg justice, because it was really good! It didn't need extra fixins.

I must say that I'm enjoying the comfort foods of fall.

Wheeee!

2011-10-24T09:45:00.000-06:00

This'll make your day.

And the view last night

2011-10-12T16:44:00.001-06:00

KAScott_20111011_5498henb, originally uploaded by Ken Scott.

Not exactly the view I had, but I can never get moonlight pics to turn out.

Don't you wish you were here?

2011-10-12T16:42:00.001-06:00

KAScott_20111005_4512panoCftmacb2, originally uploaded by Ken Scott.

This year's pumpkin take

2011-10-07T19:36:00.000-06:00

Plus a couple more that haven't ripened yet. We'll see how they look in a coupla weeks if the squirrels haven't gotten to them.

Speaking of apples...

2011-10-06T17:40:00.000-06:00

Quote from Steve Jobs..."Computers are like a bicycle for our minds."

I get the bicycle part. Computers, not so much. And, I am probably about the only person in America who does not own an Apple product. No i anything for me. I'm not anti-i, I'm just a late adopter. Perhaps one day.

Still, clearly Steve Jobs was a visionary. He's inspiring in that he followed his passion and didn't give up. Now that's something I can aspire to.

Sandwiches AWOL

2011-10-06T16:09:00.000-06:00

Apologies to my scant readership for being remiss in my sammich posts. Hard to believe that I've actually had social engagements that have precluded my Sunday habit. I actually did make TLTs this week in an attempt to use up the tomatoes that are finally ripening in the garden. I even took a picture despite it being a rerun sandwich--I figured a rerun might be better than none at all. Then I realized that I didn't have the memory card in the camera but was hungry and did not want to delay gratification long enough to fetch the card and re-take the picture. Now that's true laziness.

And, I will be otherwise occupied for the next few weeks, so there might be a sandwich here and there or there might not. There could be other postings, too, so I know that you'll all be in pins and needles in anticipation. I've also had a request to post a (soup) recipe from a previous posting, so look for that, as well.

Until then, think sandwich thoughts.

xoxo

Damn you, honeycrisp apples

2011-10-06T15:23:00.000-06:00

You have ruined me for all other apple varieties.

Hang on fall colors, I am on my way!

2011-10-06T09:19:00.001-06:00

KAScott_20111002_4456tmaBb, originally uploaded by Ken Scott.

Say it ain't so, Yehuda

2011-09-27T13:45:00.000-06:00

Really, is it true?

I can't take much more heartbreak this year.

Breakfast for dinner

2011-09-25T20:00:00.001-06:00

Or, the un-McMuffin.

Vegan sausage patties (recipe from Happy Herbivore, but is basically 1 c. cooked quinoa + 1 pkg Gimme Lean sausage + 2 T. maple syrup formed into patties and pan-fried) with baked tofu, faux cheese and a garden tomato.

Tasty, if only I had time to whip up something like this in the mornings. Thus, breakfast for dinner.

Wash it down with a little 'o this:

Bison sandwich

2011-09-19T20:06:00.001-06:00

Just kidding. No buffalo on the menu here. Are buffalo and bison the same thing? Either way, no carnage on my plate.

I made buffalo tempeh sandwiches last night. I used the recipe for buffalo tempeh (duh) that was featured here a bit ago. Upon further inspection of the previous post, this is the second (and even less creative) use of buffalo tempeh in a sandwich. But this time I'll give ya the recipe. Basically, the marinade is:

1/2 c. cayenne pepper sauce (Frank's)
1/2 c. vegetable broth
6 cloves garlic
2 tsp. oregano

Poach the tempeh, then cover in marinade for 10 minutes or more. Brown the tempeh for about 5 minutes per side, then add the remaining marinade and cook until the marinade cooks down.

I love, love, LOVE this sauce.

Served up with a side of collards from the garden. I tried to make ranch dressing for the sammies, but it turned out badly so I went with the old standby of Vegenaise. Can't go wrong there.

And, just so you know, the 3 words every Denver vegan loves to hear from Sweet Action Ice Cream: vegan salted butterscotch. It's as good as it sounds.

The view's clear from here

2011-09-16T10:49:00.000-06:00

This made my day. Sent by Culinary Hack, found here.

Late again

2011-09-14T11:35:00.000-06:00

Sloppy joes this week!

Recipe:

Sloppy Joes
2 tbs vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, cored & chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 oz tempeh, crumbled
1/2 cup bulgur
15 oz tomato sauce
1 cup hickory/smoky barbecue sauce

Heat the oil in a saute pan over medium high heat. Saute the onions, celery and green peppers until the onion begins to caramelize. Add the garlic and stir until aromatic, about a minute. Stir in the remaining ingredients bring to a boil and reduce heat to lowest setting. Cover and let cook for about 20 minutes. Periodically test the bulgur for doneness, adding a little water, if necessary. This makes over a quart, easily enough for 8 heaping sandwiches.

I have no idea where I got this recipe, so I can't give credit where it's due. Anyway, these are definitely sloppy, definitely tasty, and the recipe makes a bunch so you'll have plenty of leftovers.

And, as an aside, I paid a visit to the newly-opened, remodeled City 'O City on Monday. Apparently, reviews are mixed, but I like the new space (the old part looks much the same) and look forward to sampling the menu. My lunch, a BBQ tofu sandwich and a holdover from the old menu, was tasty as always. I spied a number of dishes I'll order on repeat visits. Kudos to the owner for giving it a go and sinking what must have been a lot of money into the remodel.

In the olden days

2011-09-13T13:49:00.000-06:00

Back before people flew everywhere, they took long car rides for family vacations. Also in olden times, we didn't have DVD players or other digital in-vehicle entertainment. We only had each other, which is why this often happened during car trips:

Can't wait

2011-09-12T19:53:00.001-06:00

KAScott_20110910_7704b, originally uploaded by Ken Scott.

To get here and see this in person. Hoping to see some northern lights action, too.

All I want for Festivus...

2011-09-08T10:56:00.000-06:00

How cool is this?

I guess I'm just a Yooper at heart.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

2011-09-05T19:42:00.001-06:00

After a miserable August, Saturday's high peaked at something like 72 degrees. Heaven! Yes, fall is in the air. The mornings are cool with a bit of a chilly bite. I love fall, but it's a shame that it goes by so quickly.

Anyway, Sunday's sandwich was an easy affair, as it was late in getting prepped. Path of least sandwich resistance, shall we say.

I made black bean burgers from The Happy Herbivore Cookbook. Recipe here.

These aren't bad, and they're easy. But, they do tend to fall apart a bit, so be careful if you decide to make them. Otherwise, they have good flavor. Served up with some potato salad and corn on the cob. Very summery holiday weekend-y.

And, in the spirit of fall, we indulged in this today:

Apparently the Punkin Ale is coveted! I grabbed the last 4-pack at the liquor store yesterday, and they said it's likely they won't be getting more in stock. Oh well, I got mine!

Happy Labor Day, all.

Late Sandwich

2011-08-29T21:19:00.000-06:00

Once again, I found myself otherwise occupied last night and did not follow through on Sandwich Sunday. In my defense, I didn't get home until 10:00 last night, and it was a work obligation...

So, Sandwich Sunday carried on today! I made Cajun-Spiced Seitan Po Boys from Vegan on the Cheap. I've never had a Po Boy, but I sure do covet one. Anyway, I doubt this would be mistaken for anything near a genuine Po Boy, but it did make for a good sandwich.

I didn't have a baguette, as I'd have for an authentic version of the sandwich, but given how far I've strayed for from the original, it doesn't make all that much difference.

This one was tasty and easy, which was definitely the goal tonight (and most nights, it seems these days).

Awww, look

2011-08-29T12:25:00.000-06:00

Before he became a total freak show.

Found here.

We have a squatter

2011-08-22T20:06:00.000-06:00

Someone has taken up unauthorized residence at our house.

Notice the teeny-tiny bat claw. The little guy/gal has squeezed him/herself into the small space between the house and the back patio. This is probably how I ended up with a bat in my shoe last summer. But, hey, I like bats and any creature that eats bugs is okay in my book. Hang out (no pun intended) as long as you like.

The taste of summer

2011-08-21T21:13:00.000-06:00

I had a new sandwich recipe to try this week, but decided to go with an old standby. In fact, I'd be happy eating this sandwich every day until the tomato plants have exhausted themselves.

Tonight's feature:

Not a great picture and not an attractive tomato. I can't recall the variety and now it's too dark to go outside and look. But, cut it open and you get this:

Gorgeous!

With a tomato like this to work with, TLTs (tempeh, lettuce and tomato) sandwiches are the obvious choice. I make my own tempeh bacon (previously covered on this blog, probably more than once), recipe here. Thin sandwich bun, garden tomato, Vegenaise and some lettuce. Heaven.

Grilled green beans and grilled corn on the side.

Meals like this are solace for yet ANOTHER week of temps in the 90's. In the spirit of willing the arrival of fall, I bought this today:

Just trying to give Mother Nature a bit of prompting to bring on my favorite season of the year.

Giving up

2011-08-20T09:13:00.000-06:00

Ran across this via the Fixed Gear Gallery (all life's answers can be found on the Gallery):

The Best Way to Solve a Problem: Give Up

Sometimes the easiest way to solve a problem is to stop participating in the problem. Sometimes the smartest choice is giving up.

I don’t think that giving up should be your primary method for dealing with problems. But there are certainly a lot of cases where it just seems to be the most intelligent answer.

The more I stop trying to force things to happen, the more they just seem to sort themselves out. The more I let things happen, the less time I spend trying to make them happen.

Giving up is really about honoring your feelings. It’s about giving up trying to force yourself into a mold of societal shoulds and embracing your true self.
So here’s an invitation to…

•Give up trying to be cool.

•Give up your golden handcuffs.

•Give up wanting to be a famous musician, artist, architect, thinker, writer, whatever-it-is. Maybe it’s smarter to make your purpose to have an impact, instead.

•Give up wanting to be different for the sake of being unique.

•Give up trying to be perfect.

•Give up keeping relationships with people you don’t really like.

•Give up trying to be the center of attention.

•Give up trying to be important. (Focusing on community is usually more fulfilling.)

•Give up achieving a lot of ego-driven goals.

•Give up trying to be super-focused. Sometimes the most compelling ideas come from the most messy, unexpected sources.

•Give up trying to be indie.

•Give up trying to popular.

•Give up caring about owning a lot of cool things, which keep you distracted from acknowledging that you don’t like what you’re doing with your life.

•Give up trying to have a perfectly organized workspace and a zero inbox.

With that said, there are a lot of ways we think we’re doing good, but we’re really not.

Counter-intuitive to what you think, it might make more sense to…

•Give up trying to be super happy all the time. Instead, settle for being peaceful.

•Give up needing a reason to share your love. Being alive is reason enough.

•Give up trying to be everything to everyone.

•Give up trying to fit the mold of your race, astrological sign, job title, religious group, political party or other erroneous associations.

•Give up caring about being the smartest, best and fastest. At least don’t let your ego get caught up in it.

•Give up caring about “being a man” or “being a woman.” Or doing what is expected of your gender.

•Give up sacrificing your life for an expensive degree that makes you feel important.

•Give up trying to be ultra productive, especially if productivity is making you miserable.

•Give up caring about having a respectable job, a respectable resume, and a respectable life. Replace following a template, with freestyling life.

•Give up trying to constantly improve yourself. Sometimes too much self improvement can cause you to lose sight of the present.

•Give up caring about doing what works.

•Give up thinking you don’t have the time or skills to make your dreams a reality.

•Give up caring about knowing everything in advance before you take action. Put yourself on auto-response instead.

•Give up trying to always find interesting experiences and interesting things to do. Alternatively, be interesting and be interested.

•Give up trying to live up to the expectation of your parents, your friends, your boss, and peers.

•Give up trying to live up to the expectation of… yourself.

•Give up trying to have a flawless body, perfect face, or an impeccable wardrobe. Care more about beautifying your mind and being a person who takes beautiful actions.

Trying to make things happen all the time creates a lot of unnecessary anxiety. It’s stressful trying to deny what is.

When I give up, I accept life as it is. No strings attached. No wishing things were different. If an action needs to be taken, I take it. But I’ve given up letting my happiness be dependent on a thing.

Most of these problems only exist within our minds. They’re not real physical problems; they’re simply psychic, imagined obstacles.

It’s interesting how we seem to have so many problems, so many dilemmas. But most of the time the answer to solving them is doing nothing. Giving up.

So, what do you think? Has giving up ever helped you win?

Hmm, perhaps easier said than done. But what's to lose by saying "eff it?" Either way, I give up.

Pickled

2011-08-18T21:12:00.000-06:00

My liver, after last night's beer foray with Sandy...

We started our bike and beer journey at Strange Brewing Company in Denver. The brewery is located in a nondescript, one-story industrial strip mall. We almost rode past it, in fact. But, it was well worth the extra effort to get there. It was a small, quiet space that I liked immediately. It felt like the Lucky Lab Brewery in Portland, only on a much, much smaller scale. Plus, they had bike racks inside the building and a popcorn maker! The beer was fantastic. I will be back.

Is that a look of beer glee or what?

After a short ride on the Platte River Trail, we found ourselves at Denver's newest microbrewery, Denver Beer Company. After the quiet, low-key atmosphere at Strange Brewing, we felt like we had arrived at hipsterville when we got to DBC. Given its more favorable location and larger size, it's not surprising that Denver Beer attracted a bigger crowd. The beer was tasty, although my taste buds were kind of buzzed by this time. Keep in mind that I'm a bit of a lightweight and 2 beers in one night is a big event for me.

So pretty

And pickling in the traditional sense: I pursued a different kind of pickling endeavor today--refrigerator pickles! I believe I've featured them before on this blog (probably in August 2010), but they do merit a repeat. Easy and tasty. In 24 hours, I will be enjoying these babies:

More cukes on the way from the garden = more pickles!

Living in Technicolor

2011-08-17T09:49:00.000-06:00

Today's Yehuda comic hit me just right today.

Looking forward to Technicolor living, one of these days I'll get there.

All I can say is...wow

2011-08-16T09:09:00.001-06:00

Another one making the rounds on the bikey webs right now. Very well worth the watch!

Southern Sammich

2011-08-14T20:51:00.000-06:00

Absence must make the heart grow fonder, because the return to Sandwich Sunday was a rousing success. Really, is there better comfort food than a good sandwich?

I went Southern this week with an Open-Faced BBQ Tempeh Sandwich from Vegan Soul Kitchen. Good choice on my part, as this sandwich was fantastic. I picked up some focaccia bread at the farmer's market, which was an excellent choice (one of these days I'll make it myself). I feel like I should have paired this with a southern beverage like a mint julep or something.

Amazingly good. Recipe here.

When bikes ruled the streets

2011-08-14T19:25:00.000-06:00

Denver put on its first Ciclovia today. A ciclovia is "the closing of the street to automobiles for use by others." Denver's event was called Viva Streets and from the looks of things, it enjoyed a very good turnout. This type of event first came to my attention several years ago when I was with the Mayor's Bike Advisory Committee, but the idea didn't have much traction or the political will to come to fruition. The winds of change have blown in Denver, and today was the culmination of what must have been a lot of effort by a lot of people to make this happen.

23rd Avenue in Denver was closed to auto traffic east-west for a distance of about 2.5 miles. The street was taken over by cyclists, skaters and walkers for this distance. Various vendors and neighborhood groups set up shop along the route, offering info, goodies, food and beverages. Since the event took place in my neighborhood (I live a half-block from 23rd Avenue), I took to the streets myself to check out the action. I met up with my friend Andy and his daughter Stella, which provided the kid/parent perspective that I don't usually get.

Stella at the start of the bike rodeo

Stella mastering of the art of riding on the line

Andy's family truckster, which drew attention wherever it went

That's one large fixed gear

While I didn't get more pictures to better capture the spirit of the event, I hope it's something that Denver embraces. Everyone seemed to be having a great time (as for the briefly "inconvenienced" auto drivers, I don't know, which is the beauty of it all), and it would be great to see something like this move to different neighborhoods and to be put on by local organizations. When you talk about the spirit of community, this type of event embodies that concept.

Props to BikeDenver for pulling it off.

Numero uno

2011-08-12T20:13:00.000-06:00

First tomato of what will hopefully be many from the garden.

Seriously, there are few pleasures as great as tomatoes from the garden, warm from the summer sun.

Pumpkins in the trees

2011-08-11T18:42:00.000-06:00

Or rogue gardening.

I did not plant these, at least not this year. Ironically, they are growing much better than the year I did plant them, whenever that was. In fact, they are taking over the back yard. But, who am I to argue when something is actually happily growing with no attending from me? Thus, we have pumpkins dangling from branches.

Come October, should you need a pumpkin, you know where to go.

One foot in front of the other

2011-08-10T19:07:00.000-06:00

Repeat.

I am not a runner. Well, I’m not a “natural” runner, anyway. It’s not easy for me, I’ve never experienced runner’s high and I don’t have the runner’s physique that I’ve always envied. Yet, I’m trying to get back into running again.

I started running in the early 90’s and hung in there pretty well for several years. Then I gradually got less diligent about it and life’s twists and turns led me away from the activity. I rationalized it by saying that my creaky, popping, crunchy (but painless) knees probably didn’t need the abuse (which I still believe, by the way). I didn’t like running but I sure liked what it did for me physically.

Now I’m in the fledgling stages of trying to get back into running. It seems that running is a metaphor for life, and I know I’m not the first person to make this connection. At this point in my life, running is as much about the mental discipline as it is about the physical. You could probably insert just about any other activity in the running as metaphor for life slot, but I’ve chosen running to fill that need. If I can maintain the mental discipline to lace up the shoes and get myself out that door 2-3 times per week to run, then theoretically I should be able to muster the mental discipline to overcome the various obstacles placed in my path. Such as, what should I do with my life? What’s holding me back from pursuing my dreams? These questions and more are among the issues that I won’t detail here. But hopefully, with each plodding step, I’ll gain the strength, courage and discipline to identify and face my fears, rather than running away from them. In a sense, I’m running toward them with the hope of finding some answers.

With that, I will return you to my usual droll blog content. Something to look forward to, right?

Ahhhh...

2011-08-09T10:35:00.001-06:00

KAScott_20110806_9922Henb, originally uploaded by Ken Scott.

Doesn't your blood pressure go down just looking at this?

No sammich this week

2011-08-08T09:54:00.000-06:00

I actually had *gasp* someone over for dinner last night and it did not involve a sandwich. Instead, we had grilled pizza with batch #2 of pesto made from the garden. I didn't get any pics, but perhaps my dinner guest will post some.

Sandwich Sunday will return next week. I think.

That's the way it was and we liked it that way

2011-08-06T12:39:00.000-06:00

Le Tour, replete with clergy, nuns and drinking while driving! Those were the days...

Vive le tour! from Bear Thunder on Vimeo.

Love this video. Sign me up for this version of the Tour.

You old poop

2011-08-06T10:51:00.001-06:00

I can't see Katherine Hepburn without thinking of that line from "On Golden Pond." Anyway, love this picture of Ms. Hepburn on a bike!

When I am an old woman, I hope to be tooling around town on my bike, wearing a hat and a black turtleneck (maybe a quarter-zip instead)...

From Rides a Bike.

Another observation

2011-08-05T19:36:00.000-06:00

Perhaps this is a result of me spending way more time than I'd like in the car, but is there some law or demographic characterization that compels Prius drivers to drive below the speed limit at all times?

Just an observation

2011-08-05T19:29:00.000-06:00

Why is it that the majority of B Cycles I see are being ridden on the sidewalk?

Stuff I like

2011-08-04T18:14:00.000-06:00

Zing energy bars!

I am not big on energy bars. They are either bland, too sweet, chalky, have a weird texture or are just plain bad. That, or if I like them, I eat too many in a short time period and get tired of them (Larabars, for example). I vow not to do this with the Zing bars!

I've only tried almond blueberry and cranberry orange and they are fantastic so I'm not sure I need to try any of the others. Also good news for the gluten-free among us. Try 'em!

Dog breath?

2011-08-02T21:04:00.000-06:00

I'm glad it's not very humid 'round here.

How to make a mess in the kitchen

2011-07-31T21:39:00.000-06:00

Now, as a general rule, I make messes in the kitchen. But, in the quest to make the best vegan sandwiches, I surpassed my usual mess-making skills today.

Anything involving frying is guaranteed to make a mess. And clearly I need a deep-fry thermometer. But the sandwiches turned out pretty well.

The first batch of "chicken" was a little gooey, as I don't think the oil was hot enough. So of course I turned up the heat, which resulted in the 2nd batch being charred. Yes, a thermometer would be good. And that brings about the question of how do I dispose of burned oil?

Frying issues aside, fried dinner = good!

Skinny is a relative term

2011-07-31T20:48:00.000-06:00

I spent a number of hours at the inaugural Denver County Fair this weekend. The event provided some excellent people-watching opportunities. I came to the realization that while Colorado may be the thinnest state in the nation, my observational abilities at the fair confirmed that there are still plenty of fat people in Colorful Colorado.

Ride. No excuses.

2011-07-28T21:47:00.002-06:00

Trapinka from Lina Jelanski on Vimeo.

I would like to do this, yes

2011-07-25T17:04:00.001-06:00

KAScott_20110719_5869b, originally uploaded by Ken Scott.

With Calvin.

Now that's a sandwich!

2011-07-25T13:44:00.000-06:00

Again, apologies for the late post. Now I've blown my analytics for the week because there was no sandwich post available for the Monday desk jockeys. Alas, I will find a way to push through the adversity. Dinner came late last night, but it was well worth it.

I decided to pursue another of the Best Vegan Sandwiches. And, as is typical of me, I chose the sandwich of least resistance--in other words, the sandwich that would require the least amount of effort on my part. This week, I opted for The Vegan Spuckie. Had I actually followed the entire recipe and gone ahead and made vegan salami, mortadella and capicola, it would have been a whole lotta effort. Instead, I purchased vegan lunch meats and pulled out some homemade vegan lunch meat I had in the freezer. Simple. Then I just had to make the carrot salad, which was surprisingly easy. I knew the sandwich was going to be good when I tasted the salad.

The recipe called for ciabatta bread, but I learned that one should not count on finding any ciabatta when showing up at the local grocery store at 7 p.m. on Sunday. So I found something I thought would suffice and indeed it did. Plus it didn't tear up the roof of my mouth.

Will try these panini style tonight. Really fantastic. If nothing else, make the carrot salad and try it on a sandwich. You'll be hooked.

Recipes here.

A little something fun

2011-07-21T12:01:00.002-06:00

While this would have looked great on the Sting Ray that I never got, this brings back memories of kid fun! Bike bell speedometer--there are days I feel I'm going this fast! And every bike needs a bell.

Get yours here (or get one for me).

Puts things into perspective

2011-07-20T20:27:00.013-06:00

A tandem bicycle carries a whole Belgian family of four with some of their belongings strapped to their backs, as they flee from the advancing Nazis into France, on June 14, 1940. (AP Photo)

See the rest of the photos here. Definitely worth the look. New pictures will continue to be added to the site through October. I am a little bit morbid and admit to reading the obits every day. And every day, there's at least one WWII vet memorialized. It's sad that we are losing these vets at such an alarming clip, so it's good to see sites like this that won't allow us to forget.

Pilfered from I Bike MPLS.

Why I'm glad I'm not doing RAGBRAI

2011-07-20T14:03:00.000-06:00

So, RAGBRAI is this week, which for those not in the know is the Des Moines Register's Anuual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. This has long been on my bucket list, and I had made tentative plans with friends to do the ride this year in lieu of the defunct Fixed Gear Symposium (for which I am still heartbroken). Anyway, plans did not work out, and I must say that I am not heartbroken.

Take a look at today's weather map:

Note the color coding and that the entire state of Iowa is under an excessive heat warning. High temp today in Des Moines will be 100 with a heat index of 112 to 117. I have heatstroke just thinking about it.

For the life of me, I do not understand why ride organizers insist on doing this stuff in the heat of summer. I know, I know, the kids are out of school, blah, blah, blah it's all about the children. No doubt turnout would decrease if the ride was held after the start of the school year. But just think of how glorious it would be to do the ride in September...

Guess I better do my own personal RAGBRAI. I've threatened before to do this, and as usual I am more talk than action. You just stay tuned in here and eventually I'll do something.

Been down that road

2011-07-20T06:51:00.000-06:00

The frustrating road of bicycle advocacy, that is. Some of us are better suited to it than others. Me, not so much.

Sights of summer

2011-07-20T06:46:00.001-06:00

tarts 020_1114cb, originally uploaded by Ken Scott.

Me likey

2011-07-19T11:35:00.000-06:00

But then again, me likey most bikes.

Handsome Speedy Devil. Handsome, indeed.

Yep

2011-07-18T13:13:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite comics, which my fine hometown newspaper recently dumped.

Too hot to cook

2011-07-17T21:07:00.000-06:00

But I did it anyway. A lackluster effort, for sure, but these burgs are a reliable standby. Recipe from Vegan on the Cheap - Better Bean Burgers. I'd include the recipe but am too hot and lazy to even do that.

Topped with Vegenaise, pickle and avocado.

I promise to be more inspired next week.

I need to be here

2011-07-14T09:06:00.001-06:00

NorthBarSunset_4091b, originally uploaded by Ken Scott.

An affair with Frank

2011-07-10T20:17:00.000-06:00

This is as close to Niagara Falls as I've gotten thus far--Buffalo tempeh.

Found the recipe in Appetite for Reduction and thought it would make an excellent sandwich. I've been spending a lot of time with Frank's Red Hot Sauce and have been putting it on most everything. I'm so enamored with the marinade for the buffalo tempeh, I could drink it. Yep, that sounds gross, but it's that good.

Add some coleslaw and you've got yourself a sandwich.

Southwestern Macaroni Salad on the side makes for a very colorful plate. Tasty, too. Cannot wait for those leftovers!

I am a bad citizen

2011-07-10T16:48:00.000-06:00

I do not have to report for jury duty tomorrow. This makes me very, very happy.

Fun!

2011-07-09T12:09:00.002-06:00

Modernists do have a sense of humor!

Friday loveliness

2011-07-08T11:17:00.000-06:00

How gorgeous is this? I must get here again soon. Photo from Great Lakes Echo.

Much more preferable

2011-07-05T14:23:00.000-06:00

Do pyrotechnics = patriotism? Seems like it these days. I prefer this version:

Looks like I might get a viewing on tonight's bike commute.

Holiday burg

2011-07-04T19:17:00.000-06:00

Sandwich Sunday got moved to today in celebration of Independence Day. I'm feeling very independent in doing so.

This burger inspiration came from this recipe in Sunset Magazine.

Chips in a sandwich? Yum.

Macaroni salad on the side. Again. As requested by the cohabitant.

Drinkie tonight was a Moscow Mule.

I used to drink these all the time, but I seem to have developed a distaste for ginger. Alas, I am betraying my Michigan heritage. I don't much like it in any form--liquid, powdered or fresh (although I like ginger snaps, go figure). It actually makes my stomach hurt, which is the opposite of the effect it's supposed to have. Guess I'll stick to vodka tonics.

Happy 4th of July to all!

Ohboyohboyohboy

2011-06-30T18:36:00.000-06:00

The new arrival:

"Portaging" the bike, as it must not get wet on the first day

So, the story on this one is that I won the frame in a raffle, so I HAD to get it built up, job or no job. I have always wanted a Cross Check, and this one turned out beautifully. I was able to move over a lot of the parts from another bike, so the build was relatively cheap. I used my babysitting money for the rest.

I have since put on the water bottle cages and the pedal clips/straps. It's ready to go! Now if it would just stop raining...

People are assholes

2011-06-29T12:48:00.000-06:00

I won't detail here what I think is appropriate retribution/punishment for the sorry excuse of a human that did this.

Cake Boss, I ain't

2011-06-28T21:52:00.000-06:00

We had a birthday in the household this week, and I decided to veganize one of my favorite cake recipes. I've had a delightful ice cream cake recipe since I was in high school (and trust me, that was a loooong time ago). Since going vegan, I haven't been able to indulge. But, I thought it a worthy challenge, and away I went.

The original recipe is pretty simple--the crust is crushed Oreos mixed with melted butter. I thought at one time that Oreos had gelatin in them, but now they don't and are on the "safe" list. Freeze that layer and then add a layer of ice cream--or in my case, coconut milk "ice cream." Freeze. Next up is a fudgy layer. The non-vegan version has condensed milk in it, so I went out and found a recipe for vegan hot fudge. Easy enough. Freeze. I knew the last layer of whipped topping was going to be the hardest to replicate. I used a recipe for sweetened cashew cream. After 2 days of freezing layers, my patience was wearing thin for this last layer, so I was unable to wait the 2 hours specified by the recipe for the cashew cream to firm up. But, hey, I was freezing it anyway so who cares? The flavor was good and that's what counts. Pour it on. Freeze it. Done.

We cut into it last night and it's pretty darn good. I did find a recipe for vegan Cool Whip but it looked like far too much effort. Next time, I may make the extra effort (which is so rare for me) and see how it comes out. I'd just like the top layer to be lighter.

Now we have ice cream cake that should last a week. Yum.

The best bike book - so far

2011-06-27T09:57:00.000-06:00

I just finished reading "It's All About the Bike" by Robert Penn. I first heard about it on NPR and thought it sounded like a good read, so I put it on hold at the library. Lo and behold, I got a brand new copy delivered to my local branch in much less time than I anticipated.

Penn is a well-traveled cyclist, having ridden thousands of miles all over the world. He decides to build his dream bike, and turns it into another kind of bike adventure as he picks and chooses components for the bike. It's an excuse for another set of travels, as he visits craftsmen and manufacturers in the US and Europe. The history of the bicycle and its components are woven into the chapters, but not so much that it feels like another "history of the bicycle" book. His passion for bicycles and his appreciation for the craftsmanship that can still be found surrounding the bike industry come shining through and make the reader feel as though they are on the journey as well.

I knew this book was for me when I read the words "The bicycle saves my life every day." While I may not ride my bike every single day (although my preference would be to do so), thinking about my bikes and about riding them gets me through most days. Bikes have changed my life and indeed they save my life in a way that's hard to describe. This book does a pretty good job of that. It is all about the bike. Anyone who knows me knows this is true...

The book does not come across as snooty or pretentious--it easily could as the author cherry picks top-of-the-line components for his bike, not to mention that he jet-sets all over the globe to visit each of the manufacturers. He presents a behind the scenes look at what goes into the production of the components, detailing the reasons that many of the manufacturers are essentially the last man standing in an industry that has become increasingly cutthroat (not to mention the decline in manufacturing overall).

Those of us that are passionate about bicycles will recognize many of the names we seek when outfitting our own bikes: Brooks, Continental, Cinelli, Campagnolo, etc. You'll read about some new ones, too.

This is the book I wish I would have written, or the book I should have written. In my case, the title would be more like "How Not to Buy a Custom Bicycle," but I digress. I can't begrudge the author, as I enjoyed this book immensely--not to mention hell could freeze over by the time I manage to choke out a book.

Bike afficionados, gear heads and history buffs alike will enjoy this book. Read it now.

For those of you that hate to read, fear not--there's a video! You'll also see the finished product, which you don't see in the book.

Burger madness

2011-06-26T20:46:00.000-06:00

Sandwich Sunday seems to be devolving into burger Sunday, which is fine, given that it is the season. I have all sorts of burger permutations to try, which brings me to the actual burger patty. I have been on a informal quest to find the best veggie/vegan burger--and when I find it you will be the first to know.

The store-bought varieties can be pricey, but they have the advantage of convenience. I decided to embark on another burger-making adventure, this time with the All American Incrediburger. I knew I was in for a project when I read the recipe but decided to give it a whirl anyway. And, they did take a lot of time and energy. There's no smooshing ground beef into a patty and throwing it on the grill. I chopped, I measured, I mixed, I wrapped, I steamed, I refrigerated...and then threw it on the grill and promptly burned the hell out of it.

Other than that, it was pretty good. That it was charred probably made it a little drier than it should have been. But, it had good texture and density. Flavor was okay--but given that I'm not a fan of burned food, I'll make the final determination after a properly cooked burg.

Served up with crunchy cabbage salad.

RIP Emma

2011-06-24T20:49:00.000-06:00

We will miss your melodious voice.

From FG Symposium 2007:

Tracy as a hood ornament

2011-06-21T10:07:00.000-06:00

I don't typically detail my bicycle encounters with cars--luckily, they are few and far between. However, this morning I had my closest encounter yet. I consider myself fortunate to be writing this.

I was sitting at the intersection of Hampden and Cherokee in Englewood, riding south on Cherokee. Hampden, also known as US285, is a 6-8 lane thoroughfare (if you count turn lanes). I had pressed the ped button to trigger the light to cross Hampden, since my mere presence will not trip the light and no cars were around to do it. The light changed and I proceeded across the intersection. As I was about 1/3 of the way across, something caught my eye and I saw a minivan barreling toward me, doing at least 40mph. I saw my life flash before my eyes, and the motorist braked hard, skidded and swerved into the other lane to narrowly avoid hitting me. Then, of course, once the danger had passed, the vehicle proceeded on its merry way. I mean, he'd already run the light, so why not keep going.

The pedestrian was oblivious to the whole thing, absorbed as he was in his iPod. I shakily proceeded through the intersection, trying to process what had just happened and what my fate likely would have been if I had been broadsided at that rate of speed. Then I started questioning whether I actually had the green light or if by chance the westbound light was green. But, no, the ped signal had turned and the eastbound traffic had stopped. Knowing I had the right of way is of little solace when I'm splattered on the pavement.

Let's all pay attention out there, k?

Grilled faux cheese

2011-06-19T20:38:00.000-06:00

I continue to pursue the recipes for the best vegan sandwiches. Actually, there are a couple of lists out there, so I have been picking and choosing to my liking...And these 2 lists should keep me occupied for awhile.

This week, I opted to make a grilled cheese sandwich. "Cheese" in this instance = Daiya. And tater tots, in a rare appearance.

The sandwich was good, although I was a little wary of the Daiya factor. I've heard the smell and taste of Daiya referred to as "stinky feet." It has verged on that for me, so when it comes to Daiya, less is more. Luckily, the proportions worked out on this one. Really, though, can you go wrong with a grilled cheese and tots?

Probably not the best summer meal, what with firing up the stovetop AND the oven. The weather cooperated today, though, but I'll save a repeat of this meal for fall or winter.

Shut up and ride

2011-06-18T10:19:00.001-06:00

This is another tidbit that's making the rounds in bike circles. I like it so much, I'm going to post it here, as well. Courtesy of the Surly blog. Truer words have not been said, at least not in my recent memory:

Some answers to just about any bike forum post I’ve ever read
If you think your bike looks good, it does.

If you like the way your bike rides, it’s an awesome bike.

You don’t need to spend a million dollars to have a great bike, but if you do spend a million dollars and know what you want you’ll probably also have a great bike.

Yes, you can tour on your bike – whatever it is.

Yes, you can race on your bike – whatever it is.

Yes, you can commute on your bike – whatever it is.

26” wheels or 29” or 650b or 700c or 24” or 20” or whatever – yes, that wheel size is rad and you’ll probably get where you’re going.

Disc brakes, cantis, v-brakes, and road calipers all do a great job of stopping a bike when they’re working and adjusted.

No paint job makes everyone happy.

Yes, you can put a rack on that. Get some p-clamps if there are no mounts.

Steel is a great material for making bike frames - so is aluminum, carbon fiber, and titanium.

You can have your saddle at whatever angle makes you happy.

Your handlebars can be lower than your saddle, even with your saddle, or higher than your saddle. Whichever way you like it is right.

Being shuttled up a downhill run does not make you a weak person, nor does choosing not to fly off of a 10 foot drop.

Bike frames made overseas can be super cool. Bike frames made in the USA can be super cool.

Hey, tattooed and pierced long shorts wearin flat brim hat red bull drinkin white Oakley sportin rad person on your full suspension big hit bike – nice work out there.

Hey, little round glasses pocket protector collared shirt skid lid rear view mirror sandal wearing schwalbe marathon running pletscher two-leg kickstand tourist – good job.

Hey, shaved leg skinny as hell super duper tan line hear rate monitor checking power tap train in the basement all winter super loud lycra kit million dollar wheels racer – keep it up.

The more you ride your bike, the less your ass will hurt.

The following short answers are good answers, but not the only ones for the question asked – 29”, Brooks, lugged, disc brake, steel, Campagnolo, helmet, custom, Rohloff, NJS, carbon, 31.8, clipless, porteur.

No bike does everything perfectly. In fact, no bike does anything until someone gets on it to ride.

Sometimes, recumbent bikes are ok.

Your bikeshop is not trying to screw you. They’re trying to stay open.

Buying things off of the internet is great, except when it sucks.

Some people know more about bikes than you do. Other people know less.

Maybe the person you waved at while you were out riding didn’t see you wave at them.

It sucks to be harassed by assholes in cars while you’re on a bike. It also sucks to drive behind assholes on bikes.

Did you build that yourself? Awesome. Did you buy that? Cool.

Wheelies are the best trick ever invented. That’s just a fact.

Which is better, riding long miles, or hanging out under a bridge doing tricks? Yes.

Yes, you can break your collar bone riding a bike like that.

Stopping at stop signs is probably a good idea.

Driving with your bikes on top of your car to get to a dirt trail isn’t ideal, but for most people it’s necessary.

If your bike has couplers, or if you have a spendy bike case, or if you pay a shop to pack your bike, or if you have a folding bike, shipping a bike is still a pain in the ass for everyone involved.

That dent in your frame is probably ok, but maybe it’s not. You should get it looked at.

Touch up paint always looks like shit. Often it looks worse than the scratch.

A pristine bike free of dirt, scratches, and wear marks makes me sort of sad.

A bike that’s been chained to the same tree for three years caked with rust and missing parts makes me sad too.

Bikes purchased at Wal-mart, Target, Costco, or K-mart are generally not the best bang for your buck.

Toe overlap is not the end of the world, unless you crash and die – then it is.

Sometimes parts break. Sometimes you crash. Sometimes it’s your fault.

Yes, you can buy a bike without riding it first. It would be nice to ride it first, but it’s not a deal breaker not to.

Ownership of a truing stand does not a wheel builder make.

32 spokes, 48 spokes, 24 spokes, three spokes? Sure.

Single speed bikes are rad. Bikes with derailleurs and cassettes are sexy. Belt drive internal gear bikes work great too.

Columbus, TruTemper, Reynolds, Ishiwata, or no brand? I’d ride it.

Tubeless tires are pretty cool. So are tubes.

The moral of RAGBRAI is that families and drunken boobs can have fun on the same route, just maybe at different times of day.

Riding by yourself kicks ass. You might also try riding with a group.

Really fast people are frustrating, but they make you faster. When you get faster, you might frustrate someone else.

Stopping can be as much fun as riding.

Lots of people worked their asses off to build whatever you’re riding on. You should thank them.

Luck be a lady

2011-06-13T16:11:00.000-06:00

Apologies for the late post. Being unemployed keeps me very busy.

Anyway, we dined on Sinatra burgers last night. Now, I have no idea how this burger incarnate acquired the name. I have no clue if Sinatra ever ate these, liked them or if he had any affiliation with this burg. I saw these on a restaurant menu years ago and have been making them since.

Your choice of burger (in this case, Amy's All American burger)
Your choice of bun (I am enjoying the sandwich thin things that are all over these days. Much less bread-y)
Swiss cheese (aka Daiya for me although I forgot to put it on last night)
Lettuce
Tomato
Grilled onion
Thousand Island (I made it with ketchup, Vegenaise, dill relish and onion powder)

Mmm, burger

Served up with a side of potato salad.

Finally

2011-06-11T20:34:00.000-06:00

That idiotic Cycle Chic is an actual ticketable offense.