ride your bike. eat free food.

FRIDAY, MAY 16. BIKE TO WORK DAY. 7AM-9AM. or as i like to call it, ride around austin and eat free food day. i mean, why discriminate against those without jobs or places to be before 9am?

live free or die. that's what the sticker on his bike said.

BREAKFAST STATIONS

austin cycling has a list of the breakfast stations. scroll down to May 16.

looks like good morning riding weather too - 60's at 7am. have fun.

Saturday, May 17 - Walking/Cycling Festival of Arts and Culture
Location: Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina St.
Time: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. more.
austin bike zoo

bikes not bombs

my grandma used to scratch out her head in any photo or group photo we had. we'd go to visit her in Kentucky and be looking through old photos and all these photos of her would have her head scratched out. it was a odd thing - but i think i understood where she was coming from. and it made an impression.

Dan Mottola wrote a lovely article for the Chronicle titled: The Revolution Will Not Be Motorized. Dan is a brilliant writer and does a great job covering bike politics, legislation and fun in Austin. He also writes nicely about animal welfare stuff.

Dan profiled 4 bicycle transportationalist and he kindly included me. Its just too bad i thought he said it was about Bikes, Not Bombs. so when the photographer came out, i did my best impression of a pipe bomb about to explode. my bad! sorry to fuck that up.

the photo that should have run. i dont know who this kid is. but i like his attitude. and his shirt.

and a shoutout to ezra, who made what is the most important part of the photo: the bike. check out more photos of his frames and builds. mine is the 4th one down. he is making beautiful wood racks and boxes too.

One of the people he profiled was Kris El Kong Elkinton. a superhero among costume wearers, a xtralongbike messiah, a real good pappa and one of the best people i know. i got this photo of him last year at Tour De Fat.

he and the nutt have a nice mobile bike mechanic thing going called guerrilla cyclewerx where they set up at events, parties, shows and work on your bike. they fix your shit. find them at frankenbike, the really really free market at treasure city thrift last sunday of every month, and lots of other places. drop them a wad of bills and let them fix that annoying squeak up by your saddle. or is that mine?

there are so many bike heroes in austin. lots of folks that ride their bike for transportation. every day i hear about another person getting on a bike to make their way for the first time to work, or school or on a errand. or just walking as transportation to the store, instead of getting in a car. i'd like to see them all profiled and recognized. they deserve it. i'm going to work on this.

first up: viking bike heroes.

HEADSUP: Brian is putting on a Cross CATASTROPHY race this sunday. 9pm. hike & bike trail. these kinds of things are what make good memories. and nice scabs.

happy mammas day to mammas of all

pie supports mammas. and in honor of today, he puts a scarf on and lays down on a cushy pillow. tula, on the other hand, prefers not to put anything on top of her head.

high in the low 80's today! i think i could pull out my wool socks again, hmmmm.

hello summer

the other day...
Originally uploaded by faster panda kill kill

i've been sitting on the couch waiting for you summer time. temps are to get up to the mid-90's this week. the days of riding and feeling like you've sweat out a six-pack of beer are here. i like these days.

some people complain about sweating or find it's a hardship in commuting by bicycle. i think we need to embrace it more. use it as a badge of honor. one of the many things that unite us all as bicycle riders. elevator conversation. you know once people stop shuffling or looking up and then down, say the obvious. 'whew, its a hot day already out there. i rode my bike in. JEALOUS??!' as you stand there looking like a very fit but sweaty heroin addict.

i dunno. im not a scientist or anything. but sweating just feels like a good thing. purifying. toxin releasing (gross) and prolly good for you.

time to put away the wool knee socks for reals. sad but true. i just wore mine yesterday. i tend to push the wool socks as long as possible.



hosiery may still be ok. in the evenings. late at nite. riding slowly. unphased by the drink.



and summertime naps are the best. viva la summer.

we interrupt this program to bring you....

reptile Kama Sutra.

ooooo baby i love your way......every day......wanna be with you night and day....something something something....everyday....

and then....

im getting back on this horse. thanks for checking in every now and then. i appreciate it. as usual, there is a lot going on in austin - bicycle related. and otherwise. many friends doing good things for the community. we have a city council election happening right now. and 2 very good pro-bicycle candidates running. its a chance for us to come together and get them elected. the League of Bicycling Voters in Austin made their endorsements - check it out and then get out for early voting.

the final report from the city smarts task force is out. it's hoped this report will continue to help and be substantial in pushing forward a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly Austin.

Yellow Bike continues to thrive. as always, they can use volunteers. and they are good people. doing many things to keep bikes on the streets of austin and introduce new people and kids to cycling. their big birthday party is the end of may. it never disappoints.

and MAY is BIKE MONTH. u know what that means. time to roll up to the stoplight with your fellow cyclists, size up the competition and on green - the time to peddle is now. shine in the moment of passing college students with their u-locks rattling from their front handlebars and curse the drag your panniers are creating. i like to call it the thursday morning commuter start line.

oh ya. i got a new bike.

courtesy fast boy cycles.

cold enough for bear hat

my friend kate knitted this hat for me. I love it and don't get to wear it enough. it was 31 riding in to sxswi this morning. I'm downtown with the geeks and rats.

texas two step

shuffle on over and vote today. then caucus later. what are the rules? can you caucus and drink beer? if two steppin is involved....i see no other way....

maybe it was just a little indigestion.

sewing for satan. i made team bean bags for my co-workers. will code and design for hellfire and eternal damnation. and a cookie. inspired by ronnie dio.

last week i actually sat through a segment of rachel ray. i can't not like her, since she owns and advocates for pitbulls. but her show is not very easy to watch. maybe i'm not the right demographic. she had donna from badrap in oakland, CA on with jonny justice. he is one of the rescued pibull from michael vick's dogfighting business. so thank you rachel ray! i promise to try one of the recipes from your cookbook my mom got me. my mom loves rachel ray and i love badrap.