My two cents

There is all kinds of bike talk going on lately in the Philadelphia area.  If you’re remotely interested in cycling, I’m sure you’ve heard some of it.  Talk of bike registration, increased fines, angry motorist rants, etc.  I’ve only read some of it.  I’ve purposefully avoided the more hateful bits (I’m sure you know what I’m talking about).  I’ve also avoided getting into discussions about it.  It’s a polarizing issue, and there are strong feelings all around.

With that said, please allow me to offer two points that I haven’t seen come up yet.

First, it should be understood that there is some overlap in bike and car use.  Most cyclists have a license, and many motorists have a bike.  The average cyclist is also a motorist, and likely is a decent driver with a keen understanding of the rules of the road, and how to share the road, drive defensively and safely, etc, etc.  The average motorist, on the other hand, is very likely NOT a “cyclist”, familiar with how to ride in heavy traffic and in a dense urban setting.  Articles which attempt to attack cycling in the city serve only to incite motorists, who have little to no concept of what a cyclist has to do to ride safely.  So all you belligerent writers and angry motorists, please invite conversations, don’t incite anger!

Secondly, I hear people ranting about how cyclists don’t obey the law.  I would like to compare the common cycling act of treating stop signs as yield, and red lights as stop signs (which should be the law, but that is another discussion) to speeding.  Any motorist who claims they don’t speed is either lying, or infuriating other drivers on the road.  We all do it, and to an extent, its condoned.  On a highway, it’s arguably safer to go 5 mph above the speed limit and flow with traffic, than to be the car everyone is trying to swerve to pass.  I would argue that cyclists running stop signs and red lights is the same thing.  Sure, its illegal, and it’s not always a good idea.  But in real life riding, its sometimes safe and ok to do.  If you disagree, I challenge you to never crest 55mph on Route 95.

And if you care about this stuff, I implore you to join and support the Bike Coalition of Philadelphia

Beer by Bike, Post-Thanksgiving edition

We’ll be riding the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov 28th.  It will be a little different from our normal format.  Meet at the Art Museum at 10am, we’ll do a couple hours of riding.  Afterward, we’ll be heading to Philadelphia Brewing Co’s Holiday Open House.  Maybe we’ll throw a lunch stop in there somewhere too, who knows.  We will also be discussing and planning an exciting potential future ride.  Hope to see you there!

Tweed Ride recap

The weather couldn’t have been better for our 2nd semi-annual Philadelphia Tweed Ride last weekend.  I had missed the first one last spring, along with most everyone else in the city.  There were 9 riders on that ride.  This time around, there were over 100.  I was thankful to be a part of the planning of this ride, and being the person signing everyone in I got a chance to see everyone’s dapper attire and bikes.  Everyone really did a wonderful job of dressing the part for this ride, there were very few slackers to be found.  Most everyone had on lovely period clothing, well cut suits, appropriate headwear, and a variety of facial hair to boot.  We were all blown away by the good turn out and positive response.  All the bystanders we rode past had smiles for us, even the drivers!

This was the maiden voyage of our newly appointed Kona Ute, featuring an amazing kid-rack hand-built by the talented Dan/Niedz.  The girls (Madeline and Jane, Penny’s seat isn’t quite ready yet) absolutely loved it.  I put on a bell for each of them, and they had a blast on the ride.  I’ll post a review and more pics of this ride in the future.

The ride was short, with a stroll through Rittenhouse Square and some games and food at Taney Park.  The end point and prize ceremony was held at the Institute (who gracefully handled the larger than expected turnout).  There were a decent amount of prizes, including a Brooks Saddle for the best dressed man and woman.  We were also graced with the presence of Lord Whimsy, who unfortunately wasn’t able to join us for the actual ride.

I think I’m not the only one who would say that this ride was incredible fun.  I really wish I had more time to meet people, as I only knew maybe 20% of the riders, and they all seemed to be having a blast.  We’ll definitely be doing this ride again, and I hope it continues to be as great as this one.

Real Life

In case you don’t  subscribe, my wife and partner-in-parenting Lois has a blog:  lovermother.blogspot.com.  Lately she’s posted a string of awesome photos and videos.  I tend to keep the focus tight here, bikes, beer, food, etc.  But 99% of my life and time is spent being a parent to 3 awesome little girls.  So lest you begin to believe that my life is all bikes and beer, you should click over and see where most of my energy is spent.

An evil month

I’m sorry to say that it looks like this month will pass without a Beer by Bike ride.  I’m very sad about this.  I’m going to chalk this month’s failures up to the month being haunted.  Some ghost or demon cursed our ride.  We’ll have to make up for it by doing something awesome next month.  Any suggestions on where we should go?

Finally brewing again

After a 2 year hiatus, I’m planning on brewing a batch of beer again.  Thanks to Tom’s prodding, I’ve finally made the effort to plan this out.  Notes and recipe are posted in Tom’s blog, so I won’t repeat here.

But the exciting thing is that during those 2 years, while I might not have been brewing, our beer has.  We have about 3 gallons of what was a Belgian IPA that has been sitting in a carboy with some sour yeast since November 2007.  We plan on bottling it this Sunday, in conjunction with our brew day.  I’m really excited to see how this beer tastes.

Updates, notes and maybe even pics to follow.  And if you feel like hanging out in Collegeville this Sunday with some sour beer and boiling kettles, just let me know.

Other Events this Weekend

So if you’re bummed about the ride not happening tomorrow, there is plenty going on this weekend instead.

Obviously there is the Gathering of the Gourds at Iron Hill in West Chester, which will happen without us.

Also on Saturday, there is Bloktoberfest.  Looks like a great beer list, and sounds like a great time, rain or not.

On Sunday there is 2 awesome events going on, both raindates from last weekend’s washout. At 10am, get your mountain bike up to Pennypack Park and get ready to get muddy for the Pennypack’s Revenge Poker Run. I just rode up there for the first time this week, and it is a ton of fun. This is going to be an awesome race/ride/funtime.

After a hose down, head down to Dock St for the 2nd annual Biketoberfest.  This year the price is more than reasonable, so you have no reason not to go.

If you plan your weekend well, you could very easily have an epic 2 day stretch of bikes, beer and awesomeness.  Hopefully I’ll see you at some point this weekend, preferably with a beer in one hand and a bike in the other!

Bad News

I love technology.  Most of the time.  Lois and I share a Google Calendar, where we organize our lives.  It is an amazing tool, and works wonderfully.  Most of the time.

Unfortunately, we both neglected to add a calendar event this Saturday.  And it turns out that we have a wedding to attend at the same time that we are supposed to ride to Iron Hill.  So I’m sorry to say that it looks like I will not be able to do this ride.  I’m scrambling trying to organize for it to happen in my absence, but I haven’t been able to get it worked out yet.  So, there is still a chance that some people will be riding to West Chester, but I can’t guarantee it.  Yet.  So if you’re reading this and want to lead the group, contact me.  Or if you really want to ride and are planning on being there regardless, let me know.  I’ll make sure you get the info you need to do the ride.  I’m really sorry for this late notice.

And if nothing happens this Saturday, I will try to set something up for next Saturday (Halloween!!).  I don’t want to break our streak of monthly rides completely!!

Beer weather

Is there anyone as excited about this weather as I am?  This is beer drinking weather.

I had the rare pleasure of getting out last night to the Foodery for a man date.  It was my first chance to really rock my Beer by Bike wool jersey.  And first time for my cool weather gloves too.  Sure, it was only 4 blocks away, but give me a break!  I wanted to gear up and ride!

I enjoyed 2 wee heavies in light of the cooler weather, Duck Rabbit’s and Geary’s.  Duck Rabbit consistently impresses me, and this was no different.  Well balanced with a gentle bitterness.  The Geary’s was perhaps more traditional with a syrupy sweetness, cloying and boozy.  And I must say, I think I prefered it’s malt assault.  I don’t know much about the brewery or their beers, but they are from Portland, ME.  Yet another reason to go visit that town.  Put it on my list.

Friday’s Saddest Image

Wow, just wow.  This is terrible.  This little girl had both parents killed by a truck while they were riding a tandem.