crankycoffey

It has been a great month for biking around town, despite the greyness. I love the smells of the city – the unexpected perfume of so many flowering trees this time of year is fantastic!

Thanks to Broadway Bicycle School for the delish pancake breakfast this morning! (Wow! their website is looking so FANCY!)

Come watch a great bicycle race movie at the HFA on Thursday evening at 7pm.  You can watch a second of it here.

I was stopped at a light on Mass Ave last night, ignoring the cyclists stopped around me.  Then a voice said something like “hey there, cyclists!”  The driver of a bicycle rickshaw was chatting us up in a friendly and funny way, declaring this quartet a one time only event, this light having brought us together.

I often ignore other cyclists at the stop light, often because they are annoying me or I’m expecting them to annoy me by getting in front of me or doing something rude or stupid.

But this guy reminded me that I usually enjoy any bicycle chit chat that occurs at a light.

Thanks to you, stranger!

Bells are important parts of bicycles.  Some may call them “accessories,” but I think they are more like “parts,” because no bike should be without one.

When shopping for a bell, try out several until you find one that sounds good.  A good sounding bell is both pretty loud and pretty to hear.  You don’t want a bell that sounds angry. A bell should be a reminder to those annoying cars and pedestrians that they, too, should come over to our side and ride bikes around.  They should bring to mind a pleasant ride.  You will also benefit from a bell with a pleasing tone.

A bell is important because you often need to let someone know you’re there.  I know I get annoyed when a cyclist announces “ON YOUR LEFT” and would prefer it if they just rang a little bell.  (Although last year I had a funny experience when someone yelled “ON YOUR RIGHT!”  and I yelled “NO, THAT’S MY LEFT!”)

A bell is a good way to say hello to another cyclist who may be on the other side of the street.  Or you can ring as you ride past your favorite bike shop.  Or if someone is holding a sign that says HONK IF YOU LOVE DAVID BOWIE, you can ring your bell, which is better than honking and less annoying to people who are trying to sleep near this sign-holder.

Anyway, as spring approaches (is it here yet?), think about adding a bell to your bicycle.

I had a horrid ride from Roxbury to Somerville on Sunday – head wind the whole way and my tires were almost out of gas.  A reminder to you – a full tube of air is an easier ride.

Speaking of performance, have you seen this hilarious video?  The song gets in my head and won’t leave.  Especially when I’m commuting on my ten ton 1960s English 3 speed.

Mass Ave bridge is very slippery this morning.  Ride slowly & cautiously!

Please please don’t run across the street against the light. And when you do, do not run with your hands in your pockets! You can fall and break your face and I won’t feel that bad for you!

Maybe you need to watch this movie, which is a movie I previously thought nobody really needed to watch:

http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=abcs%20of%20walking