Very good read - two suggestions:

1) Get one of these and use your camera's timer - pics with people in them are so much more visually interesting!

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=185553

2) Work some Latin or classic Greek text in there. Will give it some frame of reference.

Like it!

Your Raleigh Sports looks a lot like my just-finished Hercules that I'll ride come spring. Both are 1969 from the Nottingham factory.

Same replacement "extremely cheap padded leather grips" and same saddle, if that is an old Brooks B72.

Recognize your cream tires as a style nod to veloria.

I have also encountered birds of prey on rides. Once passed a red-tail like yours, 3 feet away at eye level on the chainlink fence on a bike-bridge overpass.

And on the University of Wisconsin lakefront path last month, a bald eagle flew low overhead. It perched on a branch over the trail, and looked back at me with casual condescension and no concern at all.

Anyway, not to go on ... just sharing because I like your blog, it strikes a chord.

It's a Basil Cardiff rear basket. You can get them from Niagra on Amazon.com. They also come in colors, with pretend milk bottle patterns in the wire, should one desire. I LOVE THEM. They have these long, coated wire hooks that slide right over the rails on the rack. Never rattle. I have two, and they hold more groceries than you can imagine. I have transported milk, beer, bread and other goodies in them without incident. I like them because they're so easy to put on the bike, and easy to take off. I dump things in them as I ride, like my gloves. For trips to the river, I'll throw in a blanket and food for the kiddos. They have nice handles that are easy to carry, as well. One is perfectly fine, two is awesome. Due to shipping, they aren't cheap, but they're the perfect rear basket.

http://www.amazon.com/Basil-Cardiff-.../dp/B000YO7LTK

You guys are very sweet! I'm glad everyone's enjoying it. I just had such an itch to write about where I rode, and it's always good practice.

I do need a little tripod thingy, it's true. I hesitated to even put up photos without the bike, much less me! I need to relax a bit in the photos and let myself get goofy, too. Learning as I go.

Eileen, I'm all over a Raleigh ride. I've never seen another one in my area, nor has anyone ever asked me about mine. Vintage bikes are not big in South King County.

I wish I lived in your area. My brother in law's family are on Bainbridge Island, and my daughter is in college at Evergreen. Your area is so nice! It's beautiful, the climate is mild, and the people are terrific. Here, on the other hand, ...

Thanks for the info! I think I'm going to spring for one.

I kept smirking as I read :). Then one line made me snort in the coffeeshop, drawing funny looks from everyone else. You should know that I blame your fun, humorous writing for this embarrassing fiasco!

OK, love that. I have been thinking about "basketing up" my Herc but didn't like the idea of having a basket permanently attached. I never saw a basket with easy lift-off hooks like this before - will have to investigate that. Those are in my near future, to make the Herc into a good grocery/errand bike in spring.

Wow, I'm so excited that you guys are excited! Honestly, it was just for my own need to express the "narratives" of my rides. Once I started taking photos, I felt like each ride told a short story. I really just wanted to note those little stories down, and this seemed like a fun way to do it.

Many years ago, before I started teaching, I was a writer. Over time, teaching sort of ate my life. When you read three books at time (or reread, as the case may be) and hundreds of papers over a 10 week period, and write curriculum and comments daily, you don't have energy for original fiction. Or at least, I don't. I miss writing seriously, though, and this seems like a small, low-pressure way to write again. If I can make a few folks snort aloud in coffee shops, I've achieved my aim.

So thanks everyone! Leave me comments, please, when you find a post you like. I'll probably put new posts up about once a week in the winter, more often as the weather here improves. You folks are wonderfully encouraging, and have made me feel great about this! Thanks, thanks, thanks!

I nearly bought one that I spotted on CL when I was visiting last summer -- it was $50 and in good shape. I just rode my brother-in-law's bike instead, which was free.

As pointed out, 10 MPH!? Wow. I wonder how much the fine is for changing the sign. It would be really easy to alter it to say "Fine? LOL"

Nice places to ride. Nice read. I like it.

Good blog, snarky. I need to add it to my rotation.

Nice blog, bookmarked. Your blog makes me wish I can write.:thumb:

Good lord, woman. I logged into BF for the first time in, uh, a long time to find your posts. Yes. Writer.

I can't wait to come visit and go on a 9.9 MPH ride with you!

I have sucked you back in! Bwahahaha! You just want to talk about your Bilenky. Admit it. This isn't about me <sniff>.

Maybe on that trail, speed is like warp, and increases exponentially. So 9.9 mph is an order of magnitude higher than 9.8 or something like that. My science is limited, but enthusiastic, as you know.

Awsome! Looking forward to more Snark

I'll now think of your blog when out riding.:)

Our MUP's here in Portland are alot like yours,interesting scenery is a little sparse.

I've added a bell,horn and an electronic whimsical musical horn to make the rides more interesting. It also makes the Ladies in jogging suites and running shoes smile. :D

Yes, I want to talk about my Bilenky. I just need to get it built. Wheels done tomorrow! *ahem*

So you're saying that speed, on that trail, is like the Richter scale?

Writing is like walking:
Walking: put one foot in front of the other;
Writing: put one word after the other.
In both cases you simply repeat as necessary until you get where you're going,
and sometimes you don't know where you're going until you get there.

Yeah I can put one foot in front of the other and get to where I want to go. But if I put one word after the other, you might fall asleep trying to understand what I want to say.:D It is kind of hard to be a good writer when English is not my first language and my first language is not Latin based.

Just so folks know what's going on, Jinkies is one of my best friends, rejoining us just to chat blog with me and because I've been so enthusiastic about how nice you all are. :) She is building up a gorgeous FOLDING Bilenky frame that will definitely be Classic, if not Vintage. It's going to be HOT. I may blog about it, just because I love her so much and because it's snowing here, so few rides will happen any time soon. We are totally unalike in nearly every way, and deeply bonded. She's good folk.

As for writing, it is more about practice than anything else. Like any skill, one develops as a writer as one writes (and reads. Reading is critical). That said, some folks are never stellar writers, even with practice, just as I will never be a fantastic basketball player. Natural talent is what it is. I used to think I would be a great writer, only to discover that I was merely good at it, and not terribly dedicated. I have always been funny, and occasionally I can hit beautiful notes as well, but I'm no writing genius. In the old sense of "those who can't, teach...", I'm a very good teacher, however. My students would say great. I certainly enjoy it more than I ever enjoyed being a writer.

Writing, or speaking, anything more than one language is extraordinary to me. Despite a talent for words, I have NO ability at foreign languages. Five years of French got me to the point where I could pass a semester in college only because my teacher told us on the first day that if we had perfect attendance, we wouldn't have to take the final. I had pneumonia that term, but dangit, I was IN FRENCH CLASS. :) So I can't criticize anyone's ability to write in their second language (and Abarth speaks English perfectly, I can attest).

Snarky,

Well said. I mostly write to then speak--- on Sunday mornings. That even requires a different style. I don't publish what I speak.

Here, on C&V, I write in a more spontaneous nature. I try to keep my responses short. When I type a long one, I often go back and delete it before I click on "POST".

Don't do that, Pastor Bob. I'm sure I'll really like your long posts.

Tom

S&S couplers, darling, not folding. :) Like this: http://www.sandsmachine.com/spec_ssc.htm

Very enjoyable blog :thumb:

Keep it up!

It would depend on the topic! :o