tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86504111875578828552024-03-19T01:58:03.432-06:00Me and the MundoI am the very happy owner of a Yuba Mundo Cargo bike, a purpose-built, long-tail, heavy-duty bike that is built to be a serious replacement for a carbon-emitting vehicle. I'm learning more every day what a bike can do, and I'm becoming convinced that a cargo bike with an electric assist is a truly fantastic machine!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-11056705895144484232015-11-23T15:04:00.001-07:002015-11-23T15:09:20.082-07:00Coffeeneuring Challenge 2015!<br />
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Coffeeneuring 2015!</div>
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As you might expect, I am sitting down
with a wonderful cup of coffee to write this up.</div>
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Theme within a theme: I rode 3
different bikes for my 7 rides. Not all the bikes that I own, but I
didn't have an occasion to ride the mountain bike or my winter bike,
and the single speed and the beater/don't- care- if- it-gets- stolen
bikes are currently out of commission. So hey, I coulda done 7
different bikes, but I was lazy.</div>
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#1 10/3</div>
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Rode downtown to see the Tour de Corgi,
then rode across town to The Wild Boar Cafe <a href="http://www.wildboarcoffee.com/">http://www.wildboarcoffee.com/</a> for a
small Americano.</div>
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Bike friendliness rating: 5/5</div>
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Total Mileage: 6</div>
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Bike: 1990 Cannondale Road</div>
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#2 10/11</div>
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Beautiful day, so Paula and I took a
ride downtown to have coffee and a snack at Mugs Coffee Lounge. I
had, as usual, a small Americano. <a href="http://www.mugscoffeelounge.com/" target="_blank">http://www.mugscoffeelounge.com/</a></div>
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Bike friendliness rating: 5/5</div>
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Total Mileage: 4</div>
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Bike: 1990 Cannondale Road</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe7Wdk3lZ6RPgTZdXW4KmNTaIJCT_4Hwt8wzrPz0Dq1UiqrkdFFyR2axyZ2fdsy-LUKsObviYU6FV8jQBOTjxuQaO2X8h7S4WGi0V5erXq2OkdFXNZO2IsfQblg0l_N0_biaK3og4-sFD/s1600/20151011_122959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe7Wdk3lZ6RPgTZdXW4KmNTaIJCT_4Hwt8wzrPz0Dq1UiqrkdFFyR2axyZ2fdsy-LUKsObviYU6FV8jQBOTjxuQaO2X8h7S4WGi0V5erXq2OkdFXNZO2IsfQblg0l_N0_biaK3og4-sFD/s320/20151011_122959.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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#3 10/17</div>
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Brought out the Yuba Mundo cargo bike,
“Mr. Big Stuff”, and went for a ride to the county Farmers
Market. Great coffee there from a number of vendors, I prefer the
Brazilian guy. Bought a cup of Farmers Market blend drip coffee, and
also a bag of beans. Yum! <a href="http://www.caferichesse.com/" target="_blank">http://www.caferichesse.com/</a></div>
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Bike friendliness rating: 5/5</div>
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Total Mileage: 5</div>
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Bike: Yuba Mundo</div>
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#4 10/24</div>
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On vacation in California, visiting a
friend in Oakland. Took a ride through the city streets to the World
Ground Cafe, a really nice shop on McArthur Blvd near 38<sup>th</sup>
Av. Awesome pastries, I had my usual Americano plus a croissant. <a href="http://www.worldgroundcafe.com/" target="_blank">http://www.worldgroundcafe.com/</a><br />
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Bike friendliness rating: 3/5 (some
marked bike lanes on side streets, but McArthur Blvd is awful, and no
bike racks at the cafe)</div>
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Total Mileage: 6</div>
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Bike: 1990 Cannondale Road</div>
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#5 10/31</div>
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Halloween ride with Mr. Big Stuff.
Went to B's Coffee on Prospect, a shop that caters to the commuters
who take the Max bus (a dedicated, high speed bus line in Fort
Collins). Combined coffeeneuring with errandoneuring because I was
taking our down comforter to the laudromat. Americano to go! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bsfoco/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/Bsfoco/</a></div>
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Bike friendliness rating: 5/5</div>
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Total Mileage: 8</div>
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Bike: Yuba Mundo</div>
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#6 11/8</div>
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A fabulous day, Paula and I took a ride
along the Spring Creek trail, connected with the Poudre River trail,
then headed downtown to The Bean Cycle, my original favorite coffee
shop in Fort Colllins. I went for a shot of espresso, and Paula
got a fresh juice, some kind of ginger/carrot/beet/kale concoction
that was superb. <a href="http://www.beancycleroasters.com/" target="_blank">http://www.beancycleroasters.com/</a><br />
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Bike friendliness rating: 5/5</div>
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Total Mileage: 12</div>
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Bike: 1990 Cannonndale Road</div>
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#7 11/15</div>
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Another beautiful day in northern
Colorado! Took my fav road bike, the Alu-Boo (made by a company here
in Fort Collins) for a longish spin north of town, ended up in the
lovely village of LaPorte and had lunch at Me Oh My Pie. A fantastic
place where you can get pies of any sort made with (mostly) local
ingredients. I had yet another Americano, a veggie pot pie, and a
cup of some New England Clam Chowdah that was actually pretty good
and I think it could pass muster in Maine. <a href="http://www.meohmypie.com/" target="_blank">http://www.meohmypie.com/</a></div>
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Bike friendliness rating: 5/5</div>
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Total Mileage: 28</div>
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Bike: Alu- Boo</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-66401720003100801652013-11-24T17:31:00.000-07:002013-11-24T17:32:49.739-07:00Coffeeneuring RoundupTime to put this caffeinated ride series to bed. Thanks to @coffeeneur from <a href="http://chasingmailboxes.com/" target="_blank">the Chasingmailboxes</a> blog for putting this together! Riding bikes and drinking coffee just totally go together. And hey, have you noticed that most of the great biking towns and cities are also known for their coffee culture? Yup.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oEjoxupsZt0LS-5DifZsa2b0t9rKmrfc0YLWW2MBIpaavR0UjNde0T3sXD0U3SZODrivLt107ndmozoQ2dPkmNIc1pcFCqvwqVtda_U2gega5QsUPb3NZ3nfpWQV6UQES6HE6rKQRaNG/s1600/20131027_161528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oEjoxupsZt0LS-5DifZsa2b0t9rKmrfc0YLWW2MBIpaavR0UjNde0T3sXD0U3SZODrivLt107ndmozoQ2dPkmNIc1pcFCqvwqVtda_U2gega5QsUPb3NZ3nfpWQV6UQES6HE6rKQRaNG/s1600/20131027_161528.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Americano, soy milk, Dazbog!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In summary: 7 rides, 7 weekend days, 7 cups of coffee, and approximately 40 miles of riding!<br />
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10/5 - 2.1 miles, Outdoors coffee with The Coffee Registry, Fort Collins Farmers Market<br />
10/13 - 4.5 miles, The Steaming Bean in Steamboat Springs<br />
10/20 - 2.1 miles, The Alley Cat Cafe, Fort Collins<br />
10/27 - 2.4 miles, The Bean Cycle, Fort Collins<br />
11/3 - 11 miles, Dazbog Coffee, Fort Collins<br />
11/10 - 3.5 miles, Little Bird Bakeshop, Fort Collins<br />
11/17 - 14 miles, The Wild Boar, Fort Collins<br />
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The first four rides are documented in previous posts, but I neglected to put in one of my favorite pics from the Bean Cycle ride (not to document coffee, per se, but to emphasize the coffee/bike/dog friendly atmosphere here in Fort Fun, aka: Fortlandia).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtnyAVBhePImDlmRi17Wf0frdJNFF3AUuo4TeWrTjvQ_Aw1vyWU1uIE2mGhmXwpcCU9T1BM1UFbgJhtkUAXewtBntbEHd_tMdE6S2Rau3CzsBDemVjPj2FJETJRNtU4zvbxwgNX_dMRaG/s1600/20131027_103443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtnyAVBhePImDlmRi17Wf0frdJNFF3AUuo4TeWrTjvQ_Aw1vyWU1uIE2mGhmXwpcCU9T1BM1UFbgJhtkUAXewtBntbEHd_tMdE6S2Rau3CzsBDemVjPj2FJETJRNtU4zvbxwgNX_dMRaG/s1600/20131027_103443.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just trying out the Halloween costume.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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My trip to <a href="http://www.dazbog.com/" target="_blank">Dazbog</a> happened on a really nice day, and since their shop in Fort Collins is over by the <a href="http://www.poudretrail.org/" target="_blank">Poudre River Trail</a>, I took a long and leisurely ride along the river before getting my coffee. Today was so nice, in fact, that I took the old Cosmos Mariner out of hibernation. I love all my bikes, of course, but this is the only one with a name, and nothing rides like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_531" target="_blank">Reynolds 531 steel.</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5arHrXhCRiMJIYTIKiY3T6SmlGT-40EPED6nTuEddf2s20kFqIjMnp0e8K7xdY4QdKLNYeedBWmIbYpEVMnxPQZh3IGphSRakLyTqv90e_R6KER3eVxOYZz3APoyl6RqpdN4WNZPsqehA/s1600/20131027_160500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5arHrXhCRiMJIYTIKiY3T6SmlGT-40EPED6nTuEddf2s20kFqIjMnp0e8K7xdY4QdKLNYeedBWmIbYpEVMnxPQZh3IGphSRakLyTqv90e_R6KER3eVxOYZz3APoyl6RqpdN4WNZPsqehA/s1600/20131027_160500.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the Poudre Trail on my way to Dazbog Coffee.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The following weekend I went to the <a href="http://thelittlebirdbakeshop.com/" target="_blank">Little Bird Bakeshop</a> (Little Bird, Big Love), certainly one of my favorite places and a regular stop on the coffeneuring tour of life.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnc7zVTD3oFlwxD3JRWXoTu7XKkOIguvBkmGobs_QFECwpQ-b0rZDBjBO6Er9dl8oJ73u7OnhYC2kfhhbRUA2Qvj2YgEs8rm_L1mYNOfbCWV829UbwU_j7kqghFHIW2p3kILUQ2mtz1ppr/s1600/Little+Bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnc7zVTD3oFlwxD3JRWXoTu7XKkOIguvBkmGobs_QFECwpQ-b0rZDBjBO6Er9dl8oJ73u7OnhYC2kfhhbRUA2Qvj2YgEs8rm_L1mYNOfbCWV829UbwU_j7kqghFHIW2p3kILUQ2mtz1ppr/s1600/Little+Bird.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the definition of pleasant!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Fabulous french breads and pastries, and the most beautiful espresso machine in Fort Collins (IMHO).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq_qCPozw6nCPHn2qrJaNr8SKIcM5A8oxNDrjF9aiUULFJopq1ckq_XcnP2cGZ5941CH-_2zb2k_tjX3LzqUTLwGtVK7_uyJG6vMX8eMvy7srayw55cCzhCax7jBuv1X3dduuUNbmKe_6/s1600/DSC01426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq_qCPozw6nCPHn2qrJaNr8SKIcM5A8oxNDrjF9aiUULFJopq1ckq_XcnP2cGZ5941CH-_2zb2k_tjX3LzqUTLwGtVK7_uyJG6vMX8eMvy7srayw55cCzhCax7jBuv1X3dduuUNbmKe_6/s1600/DSC01426.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It even lights up from the inside!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Enjoying my afternoon americano and a delicious "Financier", a sort of cake thing with fruit that is quite sublime:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYGRf4K6zm3791bkeWyi73cHZePR2hgS6qC-hUo2wWDFbNTnNG0aYZEMha1KhJvvpNcGDNgJzJz4eHQcrVYp7lUlNnEPRZdeF10JSZHDiYiGpSp5jAIdGoHXBO4W_3e_EzgGK5iptG1Iy/s1600/DSC01431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYGRf4K6zm3791bkeWyi73cHZePR2hgS6qC-hUo2wWDFbNTnNG0aYZEMha1KhJvvpNcGDNgJzJz4eHQcrVYp7lUlNnEPRZdeF10JSZHDiYiGpSp5jAIdGoHXBO4W_3e_EzgGK5iptG1Iy/s1600/DSC01431.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got there just before they closed, so they gave me a to-go cup.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And for the final coffeeneuring run, I took a nice long ride prior to stopping at my totally local shop, <a href="http://www.wildboarcoffee.com/" target="_blank">The Wild Boar.</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcEXHIV_yqB8GpuO7RZGmKN7h54HInwnID5kk-DsLn3V_Y3OuP0IBFh6LSXL7ogRy4gxu7JWKbWfaD0FQl1tNv0-BdMHa-gL35SOqBCRGlhOkdTh-PvWdYCG9kEx1QZP13G8NxTwY9nKZ/s1600/20131117_153824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcEXHIV_yqB8GpuO7RZGmKN7h54HInwnID5kk-DsLn3V_Y3OuP0IBFh6LSXL7ogRy4gxu7JWKbWfaD0FQl1tNv0-BdMHa-gL35SOqBCRGlhOkdTh-PvWdYCG9kEx1QZP13G8NxTwY9nKZ/s1600/20131117_153824.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of Boar paraphenalia at the Wild Boar, a fabulous, college-centric shop that has great coffee, yummy food, and local brews on tap. Fast wifi, too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today's ride brought out the Cannondale. Yes, the Cosmos Mariner has a sweeter ride quality, but for shorter rides I love the quick feel provided by the stout aluminum frame, and who wouldn't love the 2-tone blue paint?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZCkr5lq0phE0PXrADuwo6Qy2iyQzSePQj1Tnz9xf2-mtkhCpfQ6Ezts4Nvh8G1QkJqdGXijpe3SCYGkDfxxaVgsRw41Af0oea-q7RIJvJ5TJRxf9krRgQM-GykXVxf4Ob4ZPW0vtAfrg/s1600/20131117_153755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZCkr5lq0phE0PXrADuwo6Qy2iyQzSePQj1Tnz9xf2-mtkhCpfQ6Ezts4Nvh8G1QkJqdGXijpe3SCYGkDfxxaVgsRw41Af0oea-q7RIJvJ5TJRxf9krRgQM-GykXVxf4Ob4ZPW0vtAfrg/s1600/20131117_153755.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mad bike parking at the Wild Boar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the reasons I love the Wild Boar (besides the fact that it's only about 3 blocks from my house) is the coffee card - always working toward that free coffee, gotta love it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvv90H8EvnpBCZTFp3pGmrb1cLu1sL5gWQnX8Ct0iqhGalx3hfQxLdQ6iR9sq9H9D7tcy6vJIUWf5vRM7VLTBDlgQYWjFyUlYEX52CCIbyvOkKYb6Rz4T-Kw3wswbtgkocWVegsLx2Jhd/s1600/20131117_154300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvv90H8EvnpBCZTFp3pGmrb1cLu1sL5gWQnX8Ct0iqhGalx3hfQxLdQ6iR9sq9H9D7tcy6vJIUWf5vRM7VLTBDlgQYWjFyUlYEX52CCIbyvOkKYb6Rz4T-Kw3wswbtgkocWVegsLx2Jhd/s1600/20131117_154300.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small coffee in my large travel cup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So hey, that about sums it up, lots of fun trips, and I look forward to another *.*o-neuring challenge in the future!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-79850433824670010502013-11-03T21:53:00.001-07:002013-11-03T21:57:02.477-07:00If this was the World Series, we would have won by now...It just occurred to me that this is coffeeneuring #4 out of 7, _and_ it will be the 4th game of the World Series tonight. I'm sure that is a fabulous piece of good luck for the Red Sox (you know, Boston being <a href="http://www.boston-online.com/faq.html#beantown" target="_blank">Beantown</a> and all???).<br />
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(I started writing this post last Sunday, before the Red Sox won the World Series, so I'm sure that this bit of prescience (along with having a beard) was an invaluable contribution to the glory the <a href="http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos&sv=1" target="_blank">Sox</a> have achieved).<br />
<br />
So anyways, October 27th was a beautiful morning. 2 days after my wife Paula's birthday, and 4 days before my daughter Rowan's birthday. (I guess I'm drawn to Scorpios...)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PSMFJ1tND-KwWakEGY5qpdON5O6KpHnALZF6FUH3JarMCr9asy_7ZDGlu1Th8Fw96cqUQvhXGpfrghOMmz8O93ML6I_vmcb5KDV0nfqWExuBXhjemkHJImey0Ha5GxlJDiJofBVa4Fwv/s1600/DSC01389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PSMFJ1tND-KwWakEGY5qpdON5O6KpHnALZF6FUH3JarMCr9asy_7ZDGlu1Th8Fw96cqUQvhXGpfrghOMmz8O93ML6I_vmcb5KDV0nfqWExuBXhjemkHJImey0Ha5GxlJDiJofBVa4Fwv/s1600/DSC01389.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aspen leaves, late fall in Colorado</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The look of the sky and the aspens portended a really pleasant day, and for the first time in a long time, I was heading out to have my first cup of the day at a shop (instead of the usual carefully constructed coffee at home). Due to my obsession with our favorite brew, if I were to trust someone besides myself with the first cup, it had to be the Bean Cycle.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIN7X4Bu6KF9OXeVvKCMpPKUB4ZKXNw9YI4FXV2BJeAUSzs4q_6DwtIc2JjdPskp_NlPUcmcSCt4NkczGB7rBwVntPiicEsDezdB1KgxXdQJfQPSMkknTZCvx8qri_BhXk3M8wxAuGQsDz/s1600/DSC01392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIN7X4Bu6KF9OXeVvKCMpPKUB4ZKXNw9YI4FXV2BJeAUSzs4q_6DwtIc2JjdPskp_NlPUcmcSCt4NkczGB7rBwVntPiicEsDezdB1KgxXdQJfQPSMkknTZCvx8qri_BhXk3M8wxAuGQsDz/s1600/DSC01392.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Bean Cycle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://thebeancycle.com/" target="_blank">The Bean Cycle</a> was, fortuitously, the first coffee shop I ever went to in Fort Collins (while visiting many years ago). It has been a favorite ever since, despite the plethora of excellent bean roasters and espresso machines in this town. One of the things I love about it is that it is built around coffee, books, and bicycles. How can you go wrong?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c5eF1NkYSQKpxPan974twoR57PvvduGtBFFfu6LsVonkk1wweWFJq7mkOCnyUP3cEFdqYTfuN92d9_PxbWQRE7baqk2XSbZo9le_dZPvXPm7YvTwsdnHGKa1R4LJ1ketlhnea8-_21sY/s1600/DSC01393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c5eF1NkYSQKpxPan974twoR57PvvduGtBFFfu6LsVonkk1wweWFJq7mkOCnyUP3cEFdqYTfuN92d9_PxbWQRE7baqk2XSbZo9le_dZPvXPm7YvTwsdnHGKa1R4LJ1ketlhnea8-_21sY/s1600/DSC01393.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bean Cycle shares space with the bookstore and Wolverine Farm Publishing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.wolverinefarm.org/" target="_blank">The bookstore</a> features used books, new local art, stickers, and great publications such as The Boneshaker Bicycling Almanac and the The Matter Journal, a compendium of local interest.<br />
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One of my intentions this fine morning was to partake of the "Toast Bar" at the Bean. Sure, I got the americano with soy and croissant, but I had been waiting with great anticipation to try out the local bread from <a href="http://www.ingrainedbakery.com/" target="_blank">Ingrained Bakery</a>. Yes, I often get a baguette from Callie at the farmers market, but I've never tried her other offerings. Today I tried the polenta bread with homemade apple butter, and it was sublime!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMek_4yktHk1UYIbhP0Zfo7PcheOwnuHm8kZ8us8mTaqV7u5FNg6uDDeDDUZ6_GbQP1ju-WcgDCOGY0QvI0OkC5bmt9DQglSIWebtX3jhpAggWWooM9vEup6JeJp_HX7Fy-8i31MQPHVZ/s1600/DSC01397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMek_4yktHk1UYIbhP0Zfo7PcheOwnuHm8kZ8us8mTaqV7u5FNg6uDDeDDUZ6_GbQP1ju-WcgDCOGY0QvI0OkC5bmt9DQglSIWebtX3jhpAggWWooM9vEup6JeJp_HX7Fy-8i31MQPHVZ/s1600/DSC01397.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polenta bread with apple butter, croissant, and americano: Heavenly!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Bean Cycle boasts many coffee making musts: they roast their own of course, and they also make amazing coffee treats with the <a href="http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/" target="_blank">chemex</a> drip brewers (my favorite at home) and the slow drip cold coffee that I love during warm weather:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggP2CW-IWklEltP8_qOyFG0I3XI5VEY8tSr01qVBwwv48LKhVE5KOZSVsludd1P-ciK3BQYTMRNpqQB_qoIZq-VyrxdmqGB8e2cesh9wnWsfnvb6Akg-TwFsvoikG5ndc4xNXGHIk4_Yzw/s1600/DSC01394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggP2CW-IWklEltP8_qOyFG0I3XI5VEY8tSr01qVBwwv48LKhVE5KOZSVsludd1P-ciK3BQYTMRNpqQB_qoIZq-VyrxdmqGB8e2cesh9wnWsfnvb6Akg-TwFsvoikG5ndc4xNXGHIk4_Yzw/s1600/DSC01394.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBAkuy9asLSyB3EyHh4UA1SICPuu_bzyeowk5Io3LjaAjcPn9KIGFDSLYgE4msgQ0uUfCcPsCU4Asmzdm3pFos0CRXdyRxxPwAKygVZiEP53ZThE5eraFUdEyy9wr5CkityQqZRSxb3Pn/s1600/DSC01395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBAkuy9asLSyB3EyHh4UA1SICPuu_bzyeowk5Io3LjaAjcPn9KIGFDSLYgE4msgQ0uUfCcPsCU4Asmzdm3pFos0CRXdyRxxPwAKygVZiEP53ZThE5eraFUdEyy9wr5CkityQqZRSxb3Pn/s1600/DSC01395.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chemex Brewing!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07jZLORrC40PRpi6ZporLC6ZH7i0qLafFKIdVDiITwMx22AAk3U369pP8NsGJpxlAClQ14ubhgYWF1vF5CVR7u_rqe00F3zChGiUgy9yYctB3dpcLq_OfoShMBoMcUM7B9wuAnJcBxyGX/s1600/DSC01396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07jZLORrC40PRpi6ZporLC6ZH7i0qLafFKIdVDiITwMx22AAk3U369pP8NsGJpxlAClQ14ubhgYWF1vF5CVR7u_rqe00F3zChGiUgy9yYctB3dpcLq_OfoShMBoMcUM7B9wuAnJcBxyGX/s1600/DSC01396.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy cold coffee system!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://chasingmailboxes.com/category/coffeeneuring/" target="_blank">Coffeeneuring</a> is essentially what bicycling is about - being able to stop at a shop after work, or before, or on the weekend. Traveling by bike is what I do, and chillin' at coffee shops is what I love. Thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/coffeeneur" target="_blank">@coffeeneur</a>!<br />
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localAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-56860152232360593032013-10-20T17:08:00.001-06:002013-10-20T17:13:44.956-06:00Coffeeneuring Week 3!A cold and rainy day here in Fort Collins, 45 degrees with a steady drizzle when I went out on the Mundo for some coffee and munchies at the <a href="http://www.alleycatcoffeehouse.com/" target="_blank">Alley Cat Cafe</a> before heading over to the <a href="http://fcbikecoop.org/" target="_blank">Bike Co-op</a>. (The Mundo is my go-to bike in bad weather, with the waterproof bag and fenders to keep me dry).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-ZiCJa9DgIL2y7HBOMnsoDDE2vrKKJdxo7frVFUxQxdfc71W_-L-KZ4lNecE-uZ7YLDq5S-H2uDBqI5ZmzWdiJk_pZQsbBI3QVdfvlpY-Gq65kj9yp7QB3DVx3QPvGUIhjGAEs7q8R1u/s1600/DSC01380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-ZiCJa9DgIL2y7HBOMnsoDDE2vrKKJdxo7frVFUxQxdfc71W_-L-KZ4lNecE-uZ7YLDq5S-H2uDBqI5ZmzWdiJk_pZQsbBI3QVdfvlpY-Gq65kj9yp7QB3DVx3QPvGUIhjGAEs7q8R1u/s1600/DSC01380.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Despite the rain, lots of bikes at the Alley Cat Cafe</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Alley Cat Cafe is a Fort Collins staple. It's on the 2nd floor of a building that yes, is on an alley off Laurel St across from <a href="http://www.colostate.edu/" target="_blank">Colorado State University</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wGrPOUxJCU6xr8YINhQCIN30yTd7CCr7L0RblPNgJLKk-DPclUKFht166t_mkzezezBCJej320a8JeW-_z-x-1f7otBZfiDmbp68I4-EuQXohDMBCAYqn7T4KVJNHfZgAGWo33IstJi8/s1600/DSC01382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wGrPOUxJCU6xr8YINhQCIN30yTd7CCr7L0RblPNgJLKk-DPclUKFht166t_mkzezezBCJej320a8JeW-_z-x-1f7otBZfiDmbp68I4-EuQXohDMBCAYqn7T4KVJNHfZgAGWo33IstJi8/s1600/DSC01382.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entry to the Cafe, and always open means 24/7/365, people. Yeah.</td></tr>
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Very cozy place to relax and have my afternoon americano before going to help out at the Bike Co-op.<br />
Downstairs from the Alley Cat is another favorite place: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dam-Good-Tacos-FOCO/514544308591328" target="_blank">Damn Good Tacos</a>, featuring fast, fresh tacos for $3 or 2 for $5. Tasty cheap eats, but closed on Sundays, sad to say.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoatsqcPxlvzQEcGNwD6L20cQB_GVqq-8Ho9PgOywHD7LHWzGhnbxWKB1QbnIgcRmiA8kdZGgrgWdIqGPOQILpcx79p9sVmTlm47Ga9L776PduZT_9x8g39bU5Pgug9LPRX8mwU4rU56mp/s1600/DSC01383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoatsqcPxlvzQEcGNwD6L20cQB_GVqq-8Ho9PgOywHD7LHWzGhnbxWKB1QbnIgcRmiA8kdZGgrgWdIqGPOQILpcx79p9sVmTlm47Ga9L776PduZT_9x8g39bU5Pgug9LPRX8mwU4rU56mp/s1600/DSC01383.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't go wrong at Damn Good Tacos</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Had a good sandwich from the Alley Cat menu instead to go along with the coffee, and then it was back out into the rain to ride up to the Co-op (where, luckily, it was also nice and warm).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbl_hzo8AvdvTXsT343_6sTuNSaGxBhEnaO7JXVCQklsAXx1sQ8OS2QtCtdOmkJKYisNxXQRySi97OZEd1gjEiQ6JH-ta1hizFjD-dvFhEJVlgvoGkbFHzdYw6mZZ5y53XIp8xzmKKXgFS/s1600/20131020_124142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbl_hzo8AvdvTXsT343_6sTuNSaGxBhEnaO7JXVCQklsAXx1sQ8OS2QtCtdOmkJKYisNxXQRySi97OZEd1gjEiQ6JH-ta1hizFjD-dvFhEJVlgvoGkbFHzdYw6mZZ5y53XIp8xzmKKXgFS/s1600/20131020_124142.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-75339208138007676882013-10-16T17:35:00.001-06:002013-10-16T17:38:36.236-06:00Coffeeneuring Week 2Week 2 of the <a href="http://chasingmailboxes.com/category/coffeeneuring/" target="_blank">Coffeeneuring Challenge</a> found me in Steamboat Springs, CO for a weekend of relaxing and soaking at <a href="http://www.strawberryhotsprings.com/2005/" target="_blank">Strawberry Hot Springs.</a> Truly one of the most beautiful places I know.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPO5uS4I3hVlodh95luYeBV4Y_m9kJxd7RdB0vXaz26Yn3tVGDGW_mYdnJhL9EfH0USmOW1IEfR2x6qF62ofrMT71-y7YNrTPzxpwR80PyDjfQEgA3DsxhL-i-uwLKgRMNfvcy7sKdwwYl/s1600/Strawberry+Hot+Springs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPO5uS4I3hVlodh95luYeBV4Y_m9kJxd7RdB0vXaz26Yn3tVGDGW_mYdnJhL9EfH0USmOW1IEfR2x6qF62ofrMT71-y7YNrTPzxpwR80PyDjfQEgA3DsxhL-i-uwLKgRMNfvcy7sKdwwYl/s1600/Strawberry+Hot+Springs.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Strawberry Hot Springs</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We stayed for the weekend at a lodge near the mountain, and I brought along the trusty Cannondale so I could fit in a little coffeeneuring. On a beautiful but cold (28 degrees F) Sunday morning I rode the 3 miles into town to have coffee and a croissant at <a href="http://steamingbeansteamboat.com/" target="_blank">The Steaming Bean </a>coffee shop in the heart of downtown Steamboat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-na_vIivBXziQr96pxCmPSPTIQ8fB35GFlexfxtiYicecy-hZcC58kO04lX8A6c8x_Fjc5iJ26K7K85M8GLkjMIfbYf11_DC_Co8UXhAsTu_YnzHFNy-2JzCOhdu9AEPA9WyOFadmIvZ/s1600/DSC01355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-na_vIivBXziQr96pxCmPSPTIQ8fB35GFlexfxtiYicecy-hZcC58kO04lX8A6c8x_Fjc5iJ26K7K85M8GLkjMIfbYf11_DC_Co8UXhAsTu_YnzHFNy-2JzCOhdu9AEPA9WyOFadmIvZ/s1600/DSC01355.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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The ride into town was very pleasant, as there is a great bike path in Steamboat along the Yampa River. I came across this very Colorado-y scene along the trail by the river, and the pic came out sort of intstagram-like, and I think it's a cool portrait of my old Cannondale:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaIVRmOnEz2SG_gOEID47ZAOkoN67bGNWUVgu7909OkAnhGkIoOxtxBI0X0J9uejQL7fAVcLNMw3EvDJFC3lhj73Bzd-ibrK-khV56QxevflfUg1QMHnXD_OdgmX1LcYAhxiDSEacfibJ/s1600/DSC01353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaIVRmOnEz2SG_gOEID47ZAOkoN67bGNWUVgu7909OkAnhGkIoOxtxBI0X0J9uejQL7fAVcLNMw3EvDJFC3lhj73Bzd-ibrK-khV56QxevflfUg1QMHnXD_OdgmX1LcYAhxiDSEacfibJ/s1600/DSC01353.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Rad 80's Cannondale</td></tr>
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I was able to have my coffee before the rest of the fam showed up, I love to get an early start.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie59z3uWK3xjHy3y9w3osHQ5_q__QWBkosYQ3oraztu65JW2jt9b9k9lxV4v9P-pKl80_A4aUdNlC2Of30mCIAu4ly9H23V5oneE-vmBmVtKff4PwkfH_yGfQ5KNZdPNkjlZoKrIU8bLxD/s1600/DSC01357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie59z3uWK3xjHy3y9w3osHQ5_q__QWBkosYQ3oraztu65JW2jt9b9k9lxV4v9P-pKl80_A4aUdNlC2Of30mCIAu4ly9H23V5oneE-vmBmVtKff4PwkfH_yGfQ5KNZdPNkjlZoKrIU8bLxD/s1600/DSC01357.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Americano and a croissant - Bliss...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We took a walk around town after meeting up at the Steaming Bean, and made our own plans to have a mini Big Lebowski fest once we got back to Fort Collins. The local theater here in Steamboat is doing some really fun stuff:<br />
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A great weekend get-away, hot springs, good food, coffee and bicycling, yes, it's a wonderful life!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gnf-fw3o4CYb5F4wLVwIHI4vCOihIw6Gc6XEuAJvcHwLwOraIQJKQrB3qQYK-VM_ZYkOtc4mUlj216Py12eVRo_D8-u5MpHK5zsObFXrXghoFm5lyd5jGrPImQfj1VraNRCpGS9OlXx5/s1600/DSC01318+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gnf-fw3o4CYb5F4wLVwIHI4vCOihIw6Gc6XEuAJvcHwLwOraIQJKQrB3qQYK-VM_ZYkOtc4mUlj216Py12eVRo_D8-u5MpHK5zsObFXrXghoFm5lyd5jGrPImQfj1VraNRCpGS9OlXx5/s1600/DSC01318+-+Version+2.jpg" height="640" width="626" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paula, Rowan and Rob enjoying the beautiful hot springs water</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-13717274025534410962013-10-05T13:54:00.002-06:002013-10-05T13:54:20.529-06:00Coffeeneuring Challenge starts TODAY<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA9W05Q8F7MguhXrAjX0M1ig5JqhOhKot-eRm5Vzic-1eHrd6aUjws192NxZiNOWTT-4y4XGPbY2sIcDtFrp98NY0ePb9jXBinz3IZsXD0BZQeZguG6g5_-kjmxVIjjAHAUNGtDZfN2cX/s1600/DSC01209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA9W05Q8F7MguhXrAjX0M1ig5JqhOhKot-eRm5Vzic-1eHrd6aUjws192NxZiNOWTT-4y4XGPbY2sIcDtFrp98NY0ePb9jXBinz3IZsXD0BZQeZguG6g5_-kjmxVIjjAHAUNGtDZfN2cX/s1600/DSC01209.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee science at its best</td></tr>
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<a href="http://chasingmailboxes.com/2013/09/30/third-annual-chasing-mailboxes-coffeeneuring-challenge/" target="_blank">Coffeeneuring</a>: a brilliant way to combine two of the most pleasurable things in life - Coffee and Bicycles. Thanks to fellow blogger <a href="http://chasingmailboxes.com/2013/09/24/im-coffeeneur-and-im-okay/" target="_blank">Chasing Mailboxes</a> for spearheading the 2013 Coffeeneuring Challenge, explained thusly:<br />
<br />
The Chasing Mailboxes Coffeeneuring Challenge is a relaxed weekend
cycling endeavor for cyclists everywhere. If you like riding a bike and
enjoy drinking coffee or tea (or even hot chocolate), you should
consider giving the challenge a go. (See the <a href="http://chasingmailboxes.com/2013/09/30/third-annual-chasing-mailboxes-coffeeneuring-challenge/" target="_blank">website</a> for the full set of "rules")<br />
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Um, OK, I like relaxed weekend endeavors, coffee, bikes, yeah... This is great!<br />
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So today I did my first Coffeeneuring ride, and as you might have seen in the rules, I am claiming this one as the ride to the "Coffee Shop Without Walls". Four miles roundtrip to the farmers market where I got some delicious, fresh roasted, pour-over brewed coffee from <a href="http://thecoffeeregistry.com/" target="_blank">The Coffee Registry</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5PuVLNLtBfbXI9OnRDiH07bbEtXSoUJ2ABTQmJSQRTgBGrn3Ch4lx_B1AwLl1O4-lR9f-19vxdX5lhy1dM3eMEAnjfQpZLIaFozAcCvhyphenhyphenEhPfxRg1n5668MXabsMXuZUITDusGN3sdHS/s1600/DSC01217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5PuVLNLtBfbXI9OnRDiH07bbEtXSoUJ2ABTQmJSQRTgBGrn3Ch4lx_B1AwLl1O4-lR9f-19vxdX5lhy1dM3eMEAnjfQpZLIaFozAcCvhyphenhyphenEhPfxRg1n5668MXabsMXuZUITDusGN3sdHS/s1600/DSC01217.JPG" height="406" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Coffee Registry's Custom Coffee Cargo Bike</td></tr>
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The Coffee Registry is a regular stop for me at the Saturday morning farmers market. Operated by coffee evangelist and bike aficionado David Sutton, the Registry is a portable, open air coffee shop mounted on a custom cargo bike. WHAT?! This is, well, my dream, so it's awesome to see my dream come true even though it's not me doing it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP0xFdEanKAicuxsabtUDutHN5BP5X_3L_K7xEPZEvbT7atinsOozjpjrBOAMTAdGN1tla8kWn-lMufteDKgvM5chJm5ISZbR5M3CYeF1_6dcODLeOsSF7LG5cOyMm0sPh4Oc66_7LxQP/s1600/DSC01210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP0xFdEanKAicuxsabtUDutHN5BP5X_3L_K7xEPZEvbT7atinsOozjpjrBOAMTAdGN1tla8kWn-lMufteDKgvM5chJm5ISZbR5M3CYeF1_6dcODLeOsSF7LG5cOyMm0sPh4Oc66_7LxQP/s1600/DSC01210.jpg" height="640" width="494" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David of The Coffee Registry on a chilly (but chill) Fort Collins morning.</td></tr>
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So David and I chatted a bit while my coffee brewed. I told him about the Coffeeneuring Challenge, and he is agreed that Fort Collins is a perfect place for coffee and bikes. I remarked that, in my opinion, FoCo has some of the best coffee I've ever had, and a thriving culture of coffee, coffee shops and bikes. Yes, as David said, "We're Platinum!", referring to the recent elevation of Fort Collins to a <a href="http://www.fcgov.com/news/?id=4817" target="_blank">Platinum Level Bicycling Friendly Community</a> by the League of American Bicyclists. I would also submit that if there were a similar community rating for coffee and coffee shops, Fort Collins would be on the list.<br />
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Fun fact #1 - coffee brews best at temperatures between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. <br />
Fun fact #2 - in Fort Collins (average elevation about 5,000 ft) <i><b>water boils at 203 degrees F.</b></i> Perfect!!<br />
(Thanks to David for this info)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JT4RnIctwHUqZwrgwgqu-Cv-O-yVVM41UVy3kxq30cdjDnWoldDJSJ1oIfsXQW72t2LiZES3Hv0amaCa64afB0M6gclJBejdiPoOIWjM20_1vQ8d0PzJRyZAiG8qLxGzskVStX8XV0TR/s1600/DSC01212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JT4RnIctwHUqZwrgwgqu-Cv-O-yVVM41UVy3kxq30cdjDnWoldDJSJ1oIfsXQW72t2LiZES3Hv0amaCa64afB0M6gclJBejdiPoOIWjM20_1vQ8d0PzJRyZAiG8qLxGzskVStX8XV0TR/s1600/DSC01212.JPG" height="504" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dream bike!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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It is my contention that because of the perfect boiling temperature of our pure mountain water, along with the affinity of the coffee beans for high altitude, the coffee here in Fort Collins is amongst the best I know. I admit, in deference to our Coffeneuring Challenge hosts' <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C." target="_blank">home city</a>, that I have had some damn good coffee in D.C., but I invite all you Coffeeneurs to come up to Fort Collins and take a bicycle tour of the finest coffee shops and richest coffee you will ever have the pleasure to enjoy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcAiSzsmPuSNuy9-1gZ1Vy2r4WKwfXLm0jB9sVykiaCtRORYb1IBYl443Ayk6UF_iV1pb4TDjJGOZt-y29lZpawDWKBz1DVgE2chBnsWJ6yEr4DO4dU89BXn1Y4WV0Dkn75_0H3XeLvIH/s1600/DSC01218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcAiSzsmPuSNuy9-1gZ1Vy2r4WKwfXLm0jB9sVykiaCtRORYb1IBYl443Ayk6UF_iV1pb4TDjJGOZt-y29lZpawDWKBz1DVgE2chBnsWJ6yEr4DO4dU89BXn1Y4WV0Dkn75_0H3XeLvIH/s1600/DSC01218.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bringing home the coffee :-)</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-70586684115272572172013-10-05T12:33:00.000-06:002013-10-05T12:33:03.075-06:00Fort Collins Food Finders!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgTz1rCKUsvG6QJeuAlNUwvfSe6ndJmOlqXKqiakTaH5U0n7i7BC65OXhsAbPb0CN3j-dVzovV4s8oU5vpWvzg4LEfGmnMnaBFvMjnLfQ-Qu1Rr40fIOIRPvcrPlaoWfyIlj6pcl_s1Qe/s1600/20130921_122520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgTz1rCKUsvG6QJeuAlNUwvfSe6ndJmOlqXKqiakTaH5U0n7i7BC65OXhsAbPb0CN3j-dVzovV4s8oU5vpWvzg4LEfGmnMnaBFvMjnLfQ-Qu1Rr40fIOIRPvcrPlaoWfyIlj6pcl_s1Qe/s1600/20130921_122520.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mundo loaded with fresh donated produce on it's way to the Larimer County Food Bank</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1589981657"></span><span id="goog_1589981658"></span><br />
More on what a bike can do: I belong to an organization called the <a href="http://www.thegrowingproject.org/food-finders.html" target="_blank">Fort Collins Food Finders</a>, one of the many programs of <a href="http://www.thegrowingproject.org/" target="_blank">The Growing Project</a>. Food Finders, previously known as Fort Collins Food Rescue, combines two of my favorite things - Food and Bicycles! Almost every day volunteers go to where the fresh food is and bring it, via bicycle power, to the people who need it. Pickups include farmers markets, the Fort Collins Food Coop, and local farms. So far, since we started in May 2013, we've delivered <b><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FoCofood" target="_blank">over 8,000 pounds of food</a> </i></b>to many of the missions and charities who feed the hungry in our town. A lot of it goes to the <a href="http://www.foodbanklarimer.org/" target="_blank">Larimer County Food Bank</a> as well for further distribution. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOmxvQYADJlV3R_8wbG5qi3WcP0c9R5SUFzeQab4h3AjVeTcJViFnqS9xR7i-_SSN1kYID0rj4rRnGXw9CaGz348YFFmTdPMqJ4_HlyN0V59X5NN-gO17DciONfLSplWwN-pTW69KwYzq/s1600/20130921_122513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOmxvQYADJlV3R_8wbG5qi3WcP0c9R5SUFzeQab4h3AjVeTcJViFnqS9xR7i-_SSN1kYID0rj4rRnGXw9CaGz348YFFmTdPMqJ4_HlyN0V59X5NN-gO17DciONfLSplWwN-pTW69KwYzq/s1600/20130921_122513.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler uses a trailer on his fixie to deliver for Food Finders</td></tr>
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Most of the volunteers use their bike trailers to haul the bounty, but when I go out I bring the Mundo. With the Yuba Go-Getter bag on one side, a plastic tote mounted on the other, and towing my trusty old Burley trailer I can carry hundreds of pounds per trip. Comes in handy at a farmers market pickup, when lots of the vendors donate their leftovers at the end of the market. About 3 weeks ago Tyler and I met at the downtown farmers market and saved 108 pounds of peppers, corn, tomatoes and more. What a great way to combine biking and community service as well as being able to hang out with some very cool people. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhptMDol0PnLMSqK_tqlTDxS9GtZfrA42G_NCTqNBu8zMrr667GYpju3K3p9Z-0EiwjU851REAU8UlhyphenhyphenKEBbtoByvcguIab0c71AOdAMjEyFCCPChp9Qu1F6Ndwu4fT7-IN2AlI84QLfZl/s1600/food+finders+bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhptMDol0PnLMSqK_tqlTDxS9GtZfrA42G_NCTqNBu8zMrr667GYpju3K3p9Z-0EiwjU851REAU8UlhyphenhyphenKEBbtoByvcguIab0c71AOdAMjEyFCCPChp9Qu1F6Ndwu4fT7-IN2AlI84QLfZl/s1600/food+finders+bike.jpg" height="396" width="640" /></a></div>
If you think a Food Rescue operation is what your town needs (and it probably does), check out The Growing Project <a href="http://www.thegrowingproject.org/" target="_blank">website</a> for more info, and in the meantime, support your local farmers!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-29902521774618263202013-07-14T14:37:00.000-06:002013-07-14T15:03:27.989-06:00Carrying bikes with the Mundo - Update!There has been a lot of interest in the posting about carrying bikes on the back of my Mundo, so I've decided to put up some more details and a "how to" on the process.<br />
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The original inspiration for trying this out was that the <a href="http://www.fcbikelibrary.org/index.php" target="_blank">Fort Collins Bike Library</a> needed to move about 65 bikes from their storage location to the downtown library kiosk. <a href="http://www.newbelgium.com/home.aspx" target="_blank">New Belgium Brewery</a> was hosting a meeting of folks from around the country to plan this summers' <a href="http://www.newbelgium.com/events/tour-de-fat.aspx" target="_blank">Tour de Fat </a>festivities, and all the visitors needed bikes. The plan was to ride the bikes from storage to the library, and then walk back to the storage to pick up another bike. Repeat until done. I volunteered to help move the bikes, but not being a fan of walking I figured there had to be a better method, and thus the <i>Mundo Multiple Bike Loading System</i> was born.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSjh7N4g9zGbECeGpHyxm3ANzfsX5JitIXkxzEH-H_-V-9JodpYsjz1hMuUWnLWtIhecBvJ_I647ztaMSR05MqgCryfCihKGZfgJU_SCa7cFSnXFHqiWtX1-UVrb9LKodi7SUGkDScXJA/s1600/In+front+of+the+Bike+Library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSjh7N4g9zGbECeGpHyxm3ANzfsX5JitIXkxzEH-H_-V-9JodpYsjz1hMuUWnLWtIhecBvJ_I647ztaMSR05MqgCryfCihKGZfgJU_SCa7cFSnXFHqiWtX1-UVrb9LKodi7SUGkDScXJA/s1600/In+front+of+the+Bike+Library.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrying 2 bikes at a time.</td></tr>
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The basic idea was pretty easy: get a couple of v-shaped bike trays, such as those made by <a href="http://www.thule.com/en-us/us" target="_blank">Thule</a>/ <a href="http://www.yakima.com/" target="_blank">Yakima</a>/ <a href="http://www.rockymounts.com/" target="_blank">Rocky Mounts</a>, mount them to the Mundo's outriggers, and start moving bikes! Sounds easy, and as it turned out, it really was. A few technical details needed to be worked out, as I will show you, but it didn't take long to figure out.<br />
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Here are the things you'll need:<br />
(2) full length bike trays <br />
(4) 1" hex-head stainless steel machine screws with the same diameter and thread pitch as the ones that come mounted in the Mundo's outriggers. (The stock screws might not be long enough to go through the bike tray into the fitting).<br />
A drill<br />
A measuring tape (to measure exactly where to drill the holes in the trays).<br />
Some old carpet or other material to protect the frames where they contact the Mundo in transit. <br />
(2) <a href="http://yubabikes.com/accessories/cargo-straps/" target="_blank">Yuba 3 meter Cargo Straps</a> (or similar).<br />
(1) hour of time to do the first installation. (Note: once everything is measured and drilled, the process of removing or installing the racks takes less than 5 minutes).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBrvCzZy5BIA-HtYKkZw21zkqMw2GsVNKvcVlLbCgeW0d4dEvEJStYl4KBZOWxRfE-N5TqvZ3lrUJk18luP34PO15FQopBzGP6cZAOfb7UAuqoTgh79B_qNLpt-edQykdCxvfPWMbMycV/s1600/Detail+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBrvCzZy5BIA-HtYKkZw21zkqMw2GsVNKvcVlLbCgeW0d4dEvEJStYl4KBZOWxRfE-N5TqvZ3lrUJk18luP34PO15FQopBzGP6cZAOfb7UAuqoTgh79B_qNLpt-edQykdCxvfPWMbMycV/s1600/Detail+3.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's what the final installation looked like. The trays are different styles only because they were the only 2 available at the time.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The most expensive part of this project were the 4 stainless steel machine screws, as the used bike trays were donated by the <a href="http://fcbikecoop.org/" target="_blank">Fort Collins Bike Co-op</a>. Getting a tray or 2 for a project like this could be a bit of a stumbling block, but if you keep your eyes open you can probably find one on craigslist, your local community bike shop, or even at a metal recycling center.<br />
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Although the original inspiration for the project was a short-term job, my long-term objective was to have a way to easily carry one or more bikes with the Mundo. I have tried towing bikes, and it is not an ideal way to transport more than one bike, or even one bike over longer distances. This setup with the trays allows me to, for instance, carry my mountain bike to the trailhead (about 10 miles) using the Mundo instead of a car. It's a great way to get to and from the trails without having to ride my mountain bike on the street for a fairly long distance. The Mundo's electric assist makes it super-easy to get up to the foothills quickly where I can then enjoy the amazing Colorado singletrack.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S4i12ejhB60L4xyyx-8SXGi0HyP0ZV63COZSDGbKqqykqnGi_uLVPIQqRMOauFvAQWbNjTGyhDYY6W8M6w94BjeC50odmP5izmLKQ152-XwppOdqx0kGB4_pGrAnomy8cGIziSah9OmM/s1600/In+Action+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S4i12ejhB60L4xyyx-8SXGi0HyP0ZV63COZSDGbKqqykqnGi_uLVPIQqRMOauFvAQWbNjTGyhDYY6W8M6w94BjeC50odmP5izmLKQ152-XwppOdqx0kGB4_pGrAnomy8cGIziSah9OmM/s1600/In+Action+1.jpg" height="458" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carrying the mountain bike to the mountains.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Here are some more detailed pictures of the installation process for the trays, and for those of you who might need to transport 3 bikes, I think there is a way of mounting a 3rd, short tray on the top of the cargo rack. You'd have to have the kind where you remove the front wheel, otherwise the bike would stick out too far and you might have a problem with too much weight hanging off the back of the rack.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDr0tIUbHfMFcAjaBJeykWwSQZgxxbnrodHYU5_0kMDtRgL_UIgbqIZR84UMfpt8y27WRJUo-OVOS71GFlOZ0PHV4svSFT3KeZB_K0HK9uDlORAyMG_jHTqZMIeeWfhm7vNGPSyihl6wA/s1600/Detail+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDr0tIUbHfMFcAjaBJeykWwSQZgxxbnrodHYU5_0kMDtRgL_UIgbqIZR84UMfpt8y27WRJUo-OVOS71GFlOZ0PHV4svSFT3KeZB_K0HK9uDlORAyMG_jHTqZMIeeWfhm7vNGPSyihl6wA/s1600/Detail+5.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outrigger with one screw removed in the front and rear to allow the rack to be installed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKrxTcZQcuT1Xq3XX6aHDkhR7vvziRNc45oCgdKKNtI4Yy6RDTMN6Yz_PjEdbXQhgyV3qp3Fd8_YWDMx13JZAMYynHBPW5kmfYcQSiUhJrZMWkqbdz2tAjiAbOylHhEdozyGK-ELU76wC/s1600/Detail+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKrxTcZQcuT1Xq3XX6aHDkhR7vvziRNc45oCgdKKNtI4Yy6RDTMN6Yz_PjEdbXQhgyV3qp3Fd8_YWDMx13JZAMYynHBPW5kmfYcQSiUhJrZMWkqbdz2tAjiAbOylHhEdozyGK-ELU76wC/s1600/Detail+9.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail showing the extra-long machine screw needed due to the extra thickness of the rack.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QjqU5m9sKlArVMciZtcGxlYX3nCZ7Pmr1nwtSjBBw3uqaOzSoLppCy_FGLICSfdT2UHwPxAhFgpRR-xbz-DCMWJoHgWpnJUXgBfuJTIj4hdiWyX89sum5GliOpSh5dSOGAL3s_WEEsr2/s1600/Detail+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QjqU5m9sKlArVMciZtcGxlYX3nCZ7Pmr1nwtSjBBw3uqaOzSoLppCy_FGLICSfdT2UHwPxAhFgpRR-xbz-DCMWJoHgWpnJUXgBfuJTIj4hdiWyX89sum5GliOpSh5dSOGAL3s_WEEsr2/s1600/Detail+7.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lining up the hole drilled in the rack with the outriggers' screw hole. Note the slot in my wood deck for the Go-Getter bags' strap to go through.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6vB4v4pvC1pPX6-Q9FU8TuflLQKHekpuX2nOwTcobvMjX8nqHnO9uxT8EO8EFA8rtJnPoeCKVeRccV2xNIb_TCbT7zgcRb0KKctiNuz-_v6MIUPNaHHm37w9YnjhBiLYcgIzVvU0_27F/s1600/Detail+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6vB4v4pvC1pPX6-Q9FU8TuflLQKHekpuX2nOwTcobvMjX8nqHnO9uxT8EO8EFA8rtJnPoeCKVeRccV2xNIb_TCbT7zgcRb0KKctiNuz-_v6MIUPNaHHm37w9YnjhBiLYcgIzVvU0_27F/s1600/Detail+10.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the tray on the other side showing the holes drilled to match up with the existing screw holes in the outrigger.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTRwEMxUY15Mx4Y53DseVD_MHyKsy35s3d-QL68S5FzIvHm3SJ2BgVsOIELqlDVlHnbiFeAi0WsiLhEGmct-ythaDmjo7aSWyXlYCn5S871DvKTB4KLS528e5aHymr2g7yKFX2XpWm0zx/s1600/Detail+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTRwEMxUY15Mx4Y53DseVD_MHyKsy35s3d-QL68S5FzIvHm3SJ2BgVsOIELqlDVlHnbiFeAi0WsiLhEGmct-ythaDmjo7aSWyXlYCn5S871DvKTB4KLS528e5aHymr2g7yKFX2XpWm0zx/s1600/Detail+11.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the top, the rear screw is in, the front has not been attached yet. Also note the piece of old carpet around the top rack to protect the bike being carried from rubbing against the steel of the Mundo.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIotZyULr-jans4sNVRziVV98dSiGgaouOC_Uqertlu2PyZVzzsEq81dZw9WRrl623Vz6c4lwfOqISotmNKPTsMeTEewSlmF28gEUBLgcWGAvG31bKjQS83u8uXrX4yLDu59Mr7Xy8ELsB/s1600/Detail+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIotZyULr-jans4sNVRziVV98dSiGgaouOC_Uqertlu2PyZVzzsEq81dZw9WRrl623Vz6c4lwfOqISotmNKPTsMeTEewSlmF28gEUBLgcWGAvG31bKjQS83u8uXrX4yLDu59Mr7Xy8ELsB/s1600/Detail+15.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As long as the tray is mounted at the correct angle you should have plenty of room to pedal. The exact placement of the tray, and where to drill the holes was the most critical measurement during the installation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfCf3WQQ9raK9qh9ML3LV93hPRO-07eUj7mMwFsn-O4Wfu1RZghpOquKSWUXUe2AGelMoW3qsfcHefrbOVamdCiOzIbg0yaHq69KrXSV3cPcg_vl4m6cQlGJ97kXNhUgfsld4J_WWlPUu/s1600/Detail+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfCf3WQQ9raK9qh9ML3LV93hPRO-07eUj7mMwFsn-O4Wfu1RZghpOquKSWUXUe2AGelMoW3qsfcHefrbOVamdCiOzIbg0yaHq69KrXSV3cPcg_vl4m6cQlGJ97kXNhUgfsld4J_WWlPUu/s1600/Detail+19.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the mountain bike mounted on the Mundo for transport to the trailhead.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmx9oitNiwSJRzVEaqpMd8-AB6726E6l_52Fz0NmYbTN3pCqeRCvSeR4t8U10BUG4PJkKUpY-qVveiOZxdN2IHpa-cMwJNc1auj0zjytqoDTj-UN8sUwsc00WMvC-hMNXlBUFTbRXy-yB/s1600/Detail+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmx9oitNiwSJRzVEaqpMd8-AB6726E6l_52Fz0NmYbTN3pCqeRCvSeR4t8U10BUG4PJkKUpY-qVveiOZxdN2IHpa-cMwJNc1auj0zjytqoDTj-UN8sUwsc00WMvC-hMNXlBUFTbRXy-yB/s1600/Detail+23.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a closeup of how to strap the upper part of the bike to the rack of the Mundo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRQGHAl_lxl8SDTTW-LkXIGtQYl9JbKQPV3HsE3XK9vkMNAgTAUoMbxmQS_v5kieGFZx8ETfByy4uMNpl80a8Avj6poGwkNmhmM3qci83ewN2M44-duS8Irdua4V7zdXP5Yf3yHM2_kiB/s1600/Detail+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRQGHAl_lxl8SDTTW-LkXIGtQYl9JbKQPV3HsE3XK9vkMNAgTAUoMbxmQS_v5kieGFZx8ETfByy4uMNpl80a8Avj6poGwkNmhmM3qci83ewN2M44-duS8Irdua4V7zdXP5Yf3yHM2_kiB/s1600/Detail+21.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the strap holding the bike up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORx0q8hmFwt340xhbzjZd4MY6_2-avOlqwHLQ2x4WnY6Zc6Og6M981jUSNJB0LYZ2pEDnCLez1C13vwq0bh3fAQafym7fMprmX7ru8EnRCkACJWWt0VYziYLdVnl9-KFKDwGiFo1EXv_Z/s1600/Detail+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORx0q8hmFwt340xhbzjZd4MY6_2-avOlqwHLQ2x4WnY6Zc6Og6M981jUSNJB0LYZ2pEDnCLez1C13vwq0bh3fAQafym7fMprmX7ru8EnRCkACJWWt0VYziYLdVnl9-KFKDwGiFo1EXv_Z/s1600/Detail+22.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using the wheel straps that come with the bike tray to hold the wheels in place.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf96Rwg3fL0ioKAWwyrd96COzgBDZQz4fZqsVqHEiRx0anxxZyvR4T-TzMnpCetXcR8409Q21KypzlB3clBB3N6VkR4bcC-X2UpNeohGM2kz4ZsdZl83sIiq0gel5lLX3Jd0DVTr29nH7D/s1600/In+Action+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf96Rwg3fL0ioKAWwyrd96COzgBDZQz4fZqsVqHEiRx0anxxZyvR4T-TzMnpCetXcR8409Q21KypzlB3clBB3N6VkR4bcC-X2UpNeohGM2kz4ZsdZl83sIiq0gel5lLX3Jd0DVTr29nH7D/s1600/In+Action+2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And hey, I'm off to the mountains!</td></tr>
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Thanks for taking a look, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions about carrying bikes on your Mundo. Once the system is in place it's easy to put on or take off as needed, and as you might expect, it gets a lot of comments as you ride through town. And if you want to see a short video of the bike carrying a bike, go to my <a href="https://vine.co/v/hZp5tJ3DaL3" target="_blank">vine page</a>. If you need to carry even more bikes, you could always build a custom trailer such as this one I recently saw at the Bike Library, built to carry 5 bikes!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq390EFkdjmJOAWCvaJ_tvDWmnfa37yHTtSvZ6R_5F_8ne4VU7ckkD9C-VNxe3T_L_lXFC387byaK5V52zR3QD9Bpxp0KlitzEPPPidGB79N9lH4oLfCVpe8h5ui5D-EWRRpSzPzXyYvbg/s1600/IMAG0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq390EFkdjmJOAWCvaJ_tvDWmnfa37yHTtSvZ6R_5F_8ne4VU7ckkD9C-VNxe3T_L_lXFC387byaK5V52zR3QD9Bpxp0KlitzEPPPidGB79N9lH4oLfCVpe8h5ui5D-EWRRpSzPzXyYvbg/s1600/IMAG0058.jpg" height="362" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seen at the Fort Collins Bike Library - a great design for carrying 5 bikes using any bike equipped for towing a trailer.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-57246494537324658022013-06-30T16:30:00.002-06:002013-06-30T16:33:08.930-06:00Spontaneous Cargo<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY20X5pYdG2cQn-YIsI_nhvYYu5d-F1u47wv8HQHR8fgPFhnAZG1W1yA86XWTyDNvEbDjSGIGqIqGfXoGEPx3sbvt51qGWheyyw7XR9hwrfuf6hoZpt_EkcIJNSk0kzKI2RN4BjYzAYz38/s1600/DSC00221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY20X5pYdG2cQn-YIsI_nhvYYu5d-F1u47wv8HQHR8fgPFhnAZG1W1yA86XWTyDNvEbDjSGIGqIqGfXoGEPx3sbvt51qGWheyyw7XR9hwrfuf6hoZpt_EkcIJNSk0kzKI2RN4BjYzAYz38/s1600/DSC00221.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving home with the free shelf unit found alongside the road.</td></tr>
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File this under "What a Bike can Do": Today I was at the grocery store getting some things for the next few days, and on my way home I saw this cool shelf unit sitting by the side of the road. It was a freebie, and it just so happened we were looking for something to put in the garden for the squash to climb on. Perfect! Had I not been on the Mundo I would have had to come back for it, but with the amazing capacity of the longtail design and some of the cargo straps that I always have with me, I was able to strap the shelf unit to the bike and bring it on home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioE7VL4v7wXb_GHLyk0f5Gvo_eKOY6S-XE1KtIFpuAh-6op2ukZmLVIdpJHzspfEBxwoCtmOkRoJ7LAx_MnPP7POq3rgw3UWMl3T_t7H9OmeV32vheT0Cz8UC1hyphenhyphengmjF5Qd6x4pmTeJWeE/s1600/DSC00225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioE7VL4v7wXb_GHLyk0f5Gvo_eKOY6S-XE1KtIFpuAh-6op2ukZmLVIdpJHzspfEBxwoCtmOkRoJ7LAx_MnPP7POq3rgw3UWMl3T_t7H9OmeV32vheT0Cz8UC1hyphenhyphengmjF5Qd6x4pmTeJWeE/s1600/DSC00225.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My quick release cargo straps from Home Depot</td></tr>
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I always carry 3 or 4 cargo straps that I got from Home Depot. They are about 1" wide and 8' long, and have a very easy to use, secure, spring-loaded buckle. Very useful!<br />
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Here is the shelf unit put back together, ready for the garden:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH5OdyQAs-2j-A67jftFoRykdYnH0cEGvkg2v3R5MChG9M0Xezg9QykcCv4cLWapepfoAgYGo7r6lqtUpl_a_bXAov2xOI3ajfaKsogzY57NM8zoXgisi7l884G_iFMU-IGm8ImBXsXED/s1600/DSC00222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH5OdyQAs-2j-A67jftFoRykdYnH0cEGvkg2v3R5MChG9M0Xezg9QykcCv4cLWapepfoAgYGo7r6lqtUpl_a_bXAov2xOI3ajfaKsogzY57NM8zoXgisi7l884G_iFMU-IGm8ImBXsXED/s1600/DSC00222.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A perfect find for our rapidly growing squash plants.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-23519175716875784852013-06-27T15:23:00.000-06:002013-06-27T17:56:26.869-06:00Bike Lust and the Black Forest Classic 100K<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrTDypQPebU4Aex6GmU2Vk1XWFhvtz6jSuVjNSidUcxJIW3EsZf2TL5FxsjyJ1jwuhZvY0P-AQms6TG5WU6jHvFNBnhb-7_0Q_72kLGx7A_7M1mWsH7izUhBsGiAhXUh6q2hD6WWy9LCz/s1600/DSC00057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrTDypQPebU4Aex6GmU2Vk1XWFhvtz6jSuVjNSidUcxJIW3EsZf2TL5FxsjyJ1jwuhZvY0P-AQms6TG5WU6jHvFNBnhb-7_0Q_72kLGx7A_7M1mWsH7izUhBsGiAhXUh6q2hD6WWy9LCz/s1600/DSC00057.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Tommasini X-Fire demo bike with Pike's Peak in the background</td></tr>
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June 23, 2013 will go down in infamy as the day I started lusting after a new bike. I rode the <a href="http://crclub.org/Default.aspx?pageId=484806" target="_blank">Black Forest Classic</a> 100K out of Elizabeth, Colorado to support the <a href="http://denvercac.org/" target="_blank">Children's Advocacy Center</a> of Denver. I was able to ride a demo bike from <a href="http://www.creeksidebikes.com/Kirks_Shop/Home.html" target="_blank">Creekside Bicycles</a> in Parker, and now I know why all those guys are faster than me on the group rides! It <i><b>is</b></i> the bike, dammit! I have done plenty of 100K rides before on my classic 1967 Raleigh Pro, the Cosmos Mariner, but this is the first time I've ridden one in Colorado where the elevation added to the challenge. (I think the max elevation on the ride was 7300 ft).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw49Z-LnVWhpTjCwVtFgh5LazlWpaLuCPhWQvANMIxXDHuemjZnTuZ5tCX6sURkwCBG_EfccJ15ZE6-kQvtAGrArXVy4GApPkO5Bx4uhqMQ1BR6qiLUzac7IVax2FXBMhQEtlzPZqbyry/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw49Z-LnVWhpTjCwVtFgh5LazlWpaLuCPhWQvANMIxXDHuemjZnTuZ5tCX6sURkwCBG_EfccJ15ZE6-kQvtAGrArXVy4GApPkO5Bx4uhqMQ1BR6qiLUzac7IVax2FXBMhQEtlzPZqbyry/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The venerable Cosmos Mariner at Arches National Park in March 2013</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Despite the elevation and the hills, I found myself flying like the wind on the Tommasini X-Fire (Columbus XCR stainless steel frame), cranking in the big ring like it was nothing. I kept on looking down at the gears to see if I was dreaming, but no, it was true, I had become a <b><i>beast</i></b>! Well, at least it felt like that, and I finished the ride in the amazing (for me) time of 4 hours and 15 minutes, including stops. Much faster than my previous best time by far. Wow. Now I know why some bikes really are worth the big bucks, so I'll be saving my pennies and dimes and lottery tickets in hopes of being able to get my very own super-bike ASAP.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-6825992660620639122013-04-13T17:19:00.000-06:002013-04-13T17:20:23.933-06:00Modifying the Mundo to carry 2 bikesThis weekend in Fort Collins there is a big meeting at <a href="http://www.newbelgium.com/home.aspx" target="_blank">New Belgium Brewery</a>, sponsors of the <a href="http://www.newbelgium.com/events/tour-de-fat.aspx" target="_blank">Tour de Fat</a>. Most of the attendees are bicyclists (I wonder how many of them are doing the <a href="http://30daysofbiking.com/" target="_blank">30 Days of Biking challenge</a>?) and New Belgium, in cooperation with the <a href="http://www.fcbikelibrary.org/index.php" target="_blank">Fort Collins Bike Library</a>, is providing them with bikes to use for the weekend.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3FnK0kYJcKG0jdt7aEA5kjveuEP8bvmNsVOzTDXANGd6_MCCpwojOk5coIBMhYPCOP890Tlnfn9uO2yCEgxptfFS7VOf3xHESLnWorKN3-8bUgKFFFoK-5a-1ptgawcB7z475rluMx44/s1600/Mundo+Bikes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3FnK0kYJcKG0jdt7aEA5kjveuEP8bvmNsVOzTDXANGd6_MCCpwojOk5coIBMhYPCOP890Tlnfn9uO2yCEgxptfFS7VOf3xHESLnWorKN3-8bUgKFFFoK-5a-1ptgawcB7z475rluMx44/s1600/Mundo+Bikes.jpg" height="255" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mundo with 2 bikes for the Bike Library</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />
Volunteers were needed to move the bikes from a storage building to the Bike Library Kiosk where people could pick them up. The plan was: ride a bike from the storage to the kiosk, then walk back for another one. Total bikes to be moved was about 65! Well, ya know, I hate to walk, so I figured out a way to carry 2 bikes at a time on the Mundo.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNEiJSXYDOuTkqVPknbkhX4vRi5jCigtIuZyUkvGUkqIYce9cGz7ZNnhFrd9agLmOyRUR5Hu_0Dm1p5n-InNIv5k1jlYTQ7oVHqTJutk-BZ0VsEckosIgqGWPXSSJCMXRdhLkojRbml2s/s1600/7FFB8EEB-7DAF-4FD2-9B31-EEFCFA89BEC0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNEiJSXYDOuTkqVPknbkhX4vRi5jCigtIuZyUkvGUkqIYce9cGz7ZNnhFrd9agLmOyRUR5Hu_0Dm1p5n-InNIv5k1jlYTQ7oVHqTJutk-BZ0VsEckosIgqGWPXSSJCMXRdhLkojRbml2s/s1600/7FFB8EEB-7DAF-4FD2-9B31-EEFCFA89BEC0.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 Bikes on the old roof rack trays that I mounted to the lower rack. Very easy to ride with.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I had an idea that if I could find some old roof rack trays, I could probably mount them on the rear carrier somehow. Luckily, I found some old trays nobody wanted at the <a href="http://fcbikecoop.org/" target="_blank">Fort Collins Bike Co-op</a>, attached them to the lower part of the rear rack, and I was good to go!<br />
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Here's how I did it:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC8iyzKWGHredCRgGBkBOBpTabic8viB-97nyQKXyRdCcXI5_03XeWm-hHdl7nHrF3FR_Vmr8uVYZEsLnoS02X2EilySGaXm6zo7a4LNHO-ZW1H7-Ps4dENAkukSUUivR1XlUGyFa-gql/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC8iyzKWGHredCRgGBkBOBpTabic8viB-97nyQKXyRdCcXI5_03XeWm-hHdl7nHrF3FR_Vmr8uVYZEsLnoS02X2EilySGaXm6zo7a4LNHO-ZW1H7-Ps4dENAkukSUUivR1XlUGyFa-gql/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to put them at an angle so that I would have room to pedal, and the trays would not stick out too far in back.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-KDORq7k4sJmGIFI0s47FlZhTTZj_22f_4Kdc9XthQVAkuOgwQnf6HVP_akb9_i7mLgWdB4qPI2m9LDNXN31LXHoB0cNpVSOCZ4uydKa5CBQjjzJ-L0dwPY3Jcb6BTQTyncJ0LObuXN7/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-KDORq7k4sJmGIFI0s47FlZhTTZj_22f_4Kdc9XthQVAkuOgwQnf6HVP_akb9_i7mLgWdB4qPI2m9LDNXN31LXHoB0cNpVSOCZ4uydKa5CBQjjzJ-L0dwPY3Jcb6BTQTyncJ0LObuXN7/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could only find 2 full-length trays, and they don't match. But hey, they do the job.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_0Dq0eGjt7dpYc3gUc7Smh_GjmIFUsejwb2XCkBGOfO1IbVsmZSDdnlxfUZiXspop7EBMEWnSyYFMqqLVaoV9GJ_Fv14QWC6_4mjEO9S_4wj3FhyBKCYarfOUAWCGZMItRhYjmmFZe4q/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_0Dq0eGjt7dpYc3gUc7Smh_GjmIFUsejwb2XCkBGOfO1IbVsmZSDdnlxfUZiXspop7EBMEWnSyYFMqqLVaoV9GJ_Fv14QWC6_4mjEO9S_4wj3FhyBKCYarfOUAWCGZMItRhYjmmFZe4q/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I drilled holes in the tray, used some longer bolts than the ones that came with the rack. With the longer bolts the tray could be attached using 2 of the existing bolt holes.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td valign="top"><br /></td><td valign="top"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaV2tyxh8sy87ua9Pi6KCuXhawdwKBm3aq6Ga-pvyuwPzt-ak1QleSeIGq4sd2xL8btqtnwHkj_ngMb6GFDx-ArPZe99Hvy3f8WPyOl1CFH6EDXWhEeHtTnqE59tR7Yh0ehNyWEonGkWAI/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaV2tyxh8sy87ua9Pi6KCuXhawdwKBm3aq6Ga-pvyuwPzt-ak1QleSeIGq4sd2xL8btqtnwHkj_ngMb6GFDx-ArPZe99Hvy3f8WPyOl1CFH6EDXWhEeHtTnqE59tR7Yh0ehNyWEonGkWAI/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The right-side tray was an older style, but was even easier to attach. I had to remove the clamp assembly that was designed to hold the downtube, and I had to drill through one of the tubes to get my bolts in, but it is very secure.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBIwGZCYQkuZR8MkefrL46qlYb-DvxmTELNyEpapmFxBwIcfOtW_O4Wgy-ueDqKta_MSRmS29I9hgvHOlNQOgRWGQIo4dSPB2fdPYDv816gMsbQMe2K8Y0p1YuASNjFH-gnWkwx5rTB1d/s1600/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBIwGZCYQkuZR8MkefrL46qlYb-DvxmTELNyEpapmFxBwIcfOtW_O4Wgy-ueDqKta_MSRmS29I9hgvHOlNQOgRWGQIo4dSPB2fdPYDv816gMsbQMe2K8Y0p1YuASNjFH-gnWkwx5rTB1d/s1600/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's another view of the right side, you can see that there is room to pedal. That thing that looks like it has a bow on it is the old ammo box that holds my <a href="http://www.pingbattery.com/servlet/the-36V-LiFePO4-Battery-Packs/Categories" target="_blank">15Ah 36V Ping LiFePO4 battery</a>.</td></tr>
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You may think that this is a lot of work to go through to move some bikes a few blocks. It took me about an hour and a half to figure out and install the trays, but it only took half an hour to move all the bikes (there were lots of other volunteers). The setup will come in handy again on Sunday when we have to move all the bikes from New Belgium back to the storage building, but the real reason I did it was so I would have a secure way to carry my mountain bike up to the trail-heads in the foothills. It has always bothered me that people drive their cars to go ride their bikes. Well no more! This proof of concept shows that the electric-assist Mundo can easily carry a mountain bike to a trail-head that is a good 10 miles out of town (or more), and it avoids the drudgery of riding a fat tire bike on the road. Now to get the mountain bike tuned up and ready to ride. Hmmm, maybe some new tires for it this year?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-38071352743400087462013-04-09T10:34:00.001-06:002013-04-09T10:34:45.722-06:00"Epic" Spring Snowstorm Slows 30 Days of Biking Challenge<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUS_qyEHAURFpe7lVo4t7R9haeYm3AfGv6vXNu4Z6sXt6ZkFYEVU8AzizwKK4gEz1abtBD-iXd-BQ_F5Kc0gfLDxqwPfi0XBgs27vH2J6TTSStk1VLor8Zb7c6LX_WYdD1_ppEPYW71qIU/s1600/49A762D4-E4D3-484F-94B2-E28C707B2995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUS_qyEHAURFpe7lVo4t7R9haeYm3AfGv6vXNu4Z6sXt6ZkFYEVU8AzizwKK4gEz1abtBD-iXd-BQ_F5Kc0gfLDxqwPfi0XBgs27vH2J6TTSStk1VLor8Zb7c6LX_WYdD1_ppEPYW71qIU/s1600/49A762D4-E4D3-484F-94B2-E28C707B2995.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Storm Warning!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Well, if this is what 4 - 7 inches of overnight snow looks like, I guess the <a href="http://30daysofbiking.com/" target="_blank">30 Days of Biking </a>Challenge is not in danger of faltering. The reality this morning is I don't really feel like riding anywhere, not because of snow, but because it was only 19 degrees F when I got up. Being a weather wimp, I'm going to wait until later today before venturing out.<br />
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So hey, until today the weather has been fine, and the 30 Days of Biking has been a breeze. Yesterday I rode downtown to meet with my tutoree. (I work part-time for Larimer County as a GED tutor). The view from the 5th floor of the County building was beautiful - you could see the clouds and snow and wind approaching from behind the mountains, but there in downtown Fort Collins it was still rather warm. Stopped at the coffee shop on the way home, and saw a couple of cool bikes out on the town:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DsDoMJ_IhVb2Mm2NkMas3_dWBk7RB5n0_xvYDFqtwIuQuruV3uHuRPwYNccK2JyFHN_T6yD5ZsaibfU6s77ZF04fkRkxzoUnGAioJvukiFaTuyFHTJPREbWULstXJuQSyTSwUE29kkiW/s1600/FEFE8B18-7B61-4245-993E-C3DC49FF186F+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DsDoMJ_IhVb2Mm2NkMas3_dWBk7RB5n0_xvYDFqtwIuQuruV3uHuRPwYNccK2JyFHN_T6yD5ZsaibfU6s77ZF04fkRkxzoUnGAioJvukiFaTuyFHTJPREbWULstXJuQSyTSwUE29kkiW/s1600/FEFE8B18-7B61-4245-993E-C3DC49FF186F+(1).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fellow cargo-biker with rad seat cushion</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwdf8S_CCrUtNbiMjUmSf-MfDYypuVdF3WQUPyIoPsZBBmIYsVmPQyFGl_O-dOkyx5rY8ONC3p5-6nOptLvcYF6I3MgzWcjPuXa0GZzRG2vROHU403XuaJXIqGdYln0EYjJ_EF2c3Sbbi/s1600/25AEED99-A9C5-431D-AFEA-ED6984DB18A4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwdf8S_CCrUtNbiMjUmSf-MfDYypuVdF3WQUPyIoPsZBBmIYsVmPQyFGl_O-dOkyx5rY8ONC3p5-6nOptLvcYF6I3MgzWcjPuXa0GZzRG2vROHU403XuaJXIqGdYln0EYjJ_EF2c3Sbbi/s1600/25AEED99-A9C5-431D-AFEA-ED6984DB18A4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sweet errandonuering bike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RH8eRI2XqWw3mDo8aCZxScwtYwsrcaO869ZBTl1qLVh5Szf6h4br3mNzSk0BnCPjgkLEVfpoMga-QKYXxsbscQtHcK5Jia1bS6e7aiQzh5QuI85Ax9LWiBfDLhOJciTk_dbsn4-8ZgbJ/s1600/A6E48264-9A3D-49E4-919E-FDCD10D14BA1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RH8eRI2XqWw3mDo8aCZxScwtYwsrcaO869ZBTl1qLVh5Szf6h4br3mNzSk0BnCPjgkLEVfpoMga-QKYXxsbscQtHcK5Jia1bS6e7aiQzh5QuI85Ax9LWiBfDLhOJciTk_dbsn4-8ZgbJ/s1600/A6E48264-9A3D-49E4-919E-FDCD10D14BA1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beauty of a town bike with well-placed <a href="http://odellbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Odell Brewing</a> sticker</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-82287926160515672422013-04-06T22:21:00.000-06:002013-04-06T22:22:41.648-06:0030 Days of Biking BlissToday I rode my bike. I have ridden it every day (almost) since last April 2012 when the <a href="http://30daysofbiking.com/" target="_blank">30 days of Biking challenge</a> found me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXPyOahzkpkH4mLvtLPUF_LGZdVJWlMEnV-A6hUpHBof3p4r11lQvmMWasWxBGsvNJc9FtcYL7ncfoE-uHCsvobbTCSAwC8d3MqmJXju_Owtzwqvd0Hn5lrRvq074ygZdMWl4aEfWfdiC/s1600/IMG_0351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXPyOahzkpkH4mLvtLPUF_LGZdVJWlMEnV-A6hUpHBof3p4r11lQvmMWasWxBGsvNJc9FtcYL7ncfoE-uHCsvobbTCSAwC8d3MqmJXju_Owtzwqvd0Hn5lrRvq074ygZdMWl4aEfWfdiC/s1600/IMG_0351.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the spoke cards I made for the 30 Days of Biking Challenge</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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There have been some days when I haven't: too lazy, too cold, too busy, whatever! But last year, when I heard about the <a href="http://30daysofbiking.com/" target="_blank">30 Days of Biking</a> challenge, I just felt compelled to do it. I needed to make a real commitment to biking as my main form of transportation, and stop burning carbon just because I want to go get a burrito (or a coffee. Usually a coffee...). Having the electric-assist <a href="http://yubabikes.com/" target="_blank">Yuba Mundo</a> has really helped me keep my commitment - I was able to do my 38 mile round-trip commute between Worcester and Marlborough without a problem. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjpin7MKwWyr-x86A5JIcZ9KbDKq7P03QQqFNW3gmr3knYOA4ftJvzI8LwhJNz0uCabUfvC5TM2BioRagoq9hd60JPAXcOBVFFHXhRsentHzWquWDATl4dFsi2svu2sYeajB3FlGAmT1C/s1600/5F1C3F67-C4F5-4B20-B301-3CCBA6EB0699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjpin7MKwWyr-x86A5JIcZ9KbDKq7P03QQqFNW3gmr3knYOA4ftJvzI8LwhJNz0uCabUfvC5TM2BioRagoq9hd60JPAXcOBVFFHXhRsentHzWquWDATl4dFsi2svu2sYeajB3FlGAmT1C/s1600/5F1C3F67-C4F5-4B20-B301-3CCBA6EB0699.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mundo with trailer = massive hauling capability</td></tr>
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Now that I've retired from teaching and live in Fort Collins, aka Bicycle Paradise, I only use the Mundo for grocery shopping, hauling, and long distance trips that have to be accomplished quickly (The electric-assist Mundo moves through time and space at an average speed of about 18 mph). However, whether I'm riding the Mundo or my trusty old Cannondale road bike, or doing a long touring ride with my beautiful old 1967 Raleigh Pro, the Cosmos Mariner, the bliss of bicycling has truly taken hold. I felt it today very strongly, the warm air, the beautiful clouds, the foothills off to the west; weaving through the streets, no hurry, just enjoyment of the movement. In the moment. Bliss. Yes, I will bike every day this April, and the 30 days of biking will continue to be an inspiration as Spring turns to Summer and the silent, perfect wheels of the most efficient machine on Earth keep spinning.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-81718687527463829992013-04-02T17:05:00.000-06:002013-04-02T22:13:43.184-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-gZbjP3SYQICHH57GnxYQNjT64ewPpuh3-BXj2ljF69IIFqHfbpHbIZSLajL-3rIDHQ_WfWlj6IYGSqkdRWmcBPFLGUNzD1TFerWmXwAdjpLBxxjF-VigQQCW5_5cOLEavBvvnu89rGE/s1600/IMG_0350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-gZbjP3SYQICHH57GnxYQNjT64ewPpuh3-BXj2ljF69IIFqHfbpHbIZSLajL-3rIDHQ_WfWlj6IYGSqkdRWmcBPFLGUNzD1TFerWmXwAdjpLBxxjF-VigQQCW5_5cOLEavBvvnu89rGE/s1600/IMG_0350.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's a quick update - It's April, and I'm participating in the <a href="http://30daysofbiking.com/" target="_blank">30 Days of Biking</a>, a challenge to start the warm weather riding season off right by riding your bike every day in April. Last year, this was my inspiration to make a solid commitment to riding to work everyday, and with the help of the electric-assisted Mundo I was able to make the 38 mile round-trip almost every work day of the month. This year I'm in a different city and state, and no longer have a M-F type job, so no commuting needed. However, me and the Mundo are busy errandoneurring around Fort Collins, and trying to get this bicycle paradise up to the next level of bliss. So hey, I've made some bike spoke cards, and I'm putting them around town. If you get one, let me know, go to the 30 days of biking website and make the pledge, and then, if you want, give the card to another bicycle you see. OK, off to the store for groceries, something a bike can do.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-16301575289204828642013-02-23T10:46:00.002-07:002013-02-23T10:46:28.862-07:00North American Handmade Bicycle Show comes to Denver<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">The </span><a href="http://2013.handmadebicycleshow.com/" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">North American Handmade Bicycle Show</a><span style="text-align: start;"> is in Denver this weekend, and I am here to ogle and dream. The show runs Friday to Sunday, and I volunteered at the registration desk on Friday in exchange for a free ticket on Saturday, a nice deal. I went to the show once before when it was in Richmond, VA, so I knew it was a wonderful place to see the best in custom bicycles. I would highly recommend you go if you can, you'll see some phenomenally beautiful bikes, and get to talk to the builders directly. I'm heading back upstairs at the Denver Convention Center, but wanted to post some pictures from what I've seen so far:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeCQ6IvrIHpghdoKhamGOErg-l8R7WkuU_Ia9ko6xMf5GyDKwvAkfYzQvHbxsuYYClhdWtJWeEA6HVGhtnn2aWh6GIXQlMODig5pkQkf6wrE2yZwIDBKqWuWNx0h_AN14OEEWwvnawDJF/s1600/IMG_8701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeCQ6IvrIHpghdoKhamGOErg-l8R7WkuU_Ia9ko6xMf5GyDKwvAkfYzQvHbxsuYYClhdWtJWeEA6HVGhtnn2aWh6GIXQlMODig5pkQkf6wrE2yZwIDBKqWuWNx0h_AN14OEEWwvnawDJF/s1600/IMG_8701.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome lug work on a bike by <a href="http://www.bilenky.com/Home.html" target="_blank">Bilenky Cycle Works</a> of Philadelphia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLMrlNaeJaMg9NXAd8s8Rm0jVvAyWrDNUWeVZz4898eOvhSOlWs7Kn-d8w8JIVScFqvON7t_3sks5UDFT1UOTbxJ2Iwl8daaQ3XXBKJ3Vdr7suUNaGeeGYiVHkFR8ab27q9wD2WFElZFJ/s1600/IMG_8668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLMrlNaeJaMg9NXAd8s8Rm0jVvAyWrDNUWeVZz4898eOvhSOlWs7Kn-d8w8JIVScFqvON7t_3sks5UDFT1UOTbxJ2Iwl8daaQ3XXBKJ3Vdr7suUNaGeeGYiVHkFR8ab27q9wD2WFElZFJ/s1600/IMG_8668.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic Italian Steel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1uBlzJkEV0KR6Xxr-hZNJr7FGvkNCpakIRzmadlUqAiDEBcJDgWEaJHJpcFbs12EMU6_TBMaNcNOvs64jXmtp2sNwcmUwmwmgXaPEUPrr-ybNessRfm0JmHEGXEy_T2Ro6zABOM0Wv4y/s1600/IMG_8670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1uBlzJkEV0KR6Xxr-hZNJr7FGvkNCpakIRzmadlUqAiDEBcJDgWEaJHJpcFbs12EMU6_TBMaNcNOvs64jXmtp2sNwcmUwmwmgXaPEUPrr-ybNessRfm0JmHEGXEy_T2Ro6zABOM0Wv4y/s1600/IMG_8670.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://herobike.org/about/" target="_blank">Hero Bicycle Projec</a>t teaches you how to build your own bamboo bike, and the money raised goes directly to support youth initiatives in Alabama.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94F9YklJ4bogpo7AEende_6mZd9vhgms-iIm_l6msaJvV9sO2eTUVVu5w4S1RdDccw0ATfI_BjIqe8jFydnEo0TvE3sMApzj_SvCF0yOa3I-r9atv48rJNw90rm0BE77rtmb1C9fbm1Nu/s1600/IMG_8704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94F9YklJ4bogpo7AEende_6mZd9vhgms-iIm_l6msaJvV9sO2eTUVVu5w4S1RdDccw0ATfI_BjIqe8jFydnEo0TvE3sMApzj_SvCF0yOa3I-r9atv48rJNw90rm0BE77rtmb1C9fbm1Nu/s1600/IMG_8704.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow, OK this is a curved titanium frame created by welding a "bend" in the downtube. Very cool.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJiB1PAEeHHncO_UOcZnXDDuCqNV7GJmlwsYxgNOwtCBbvXvteMpNpyx-9njPqWSsMEL96Z_f81kuex_bGA0URe1JJpxtjV_3Cs2a0qIETU1mY7p9nbJwPsgRBFrSCLASUFpfrjyLjnaK/s1600/IMG_8702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJiB1PAEeHHncO_UOcZnXDDuCqNV7GJmlwsYxgNOwtCBbvXvteMpNpyx-9njPqWSsMEL96Z_f81kuex_bGA0URe1JJpxtjV_3Cs2a0qIETU1mY7p9nbJwPsgRBFrSCLASUFpfrjyLjnaK/s1600/IMG_8702.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wonder Woman bicycle by Bilenky Cycle Works</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FSpOOwTUeqhbTyVcpfXZcg5K6TKMyBX4DuUhJCgHAT9OVcDSWrx6oPU0nSUmJLmL8yADk7rajJd9OmF-Ke6Kkc02YvQNGaJHQICTmiblBlix_xmfgX6ahrO6yMejeHixrglhCbqvdAfA/s1600/IMG_8706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FSpOOwTUeqhbTyVcpfXZcg5K6TKMyBX4DuUhJCgHAT9OVcDSWrx6oPU0nSUmJLmL8yADk7rajJd9OmF-Ke6Kkc02YvQNGaJHQICTmiblBlix_xmfgX6ahrO6yMejeHixrglhCbqvdAfA/s1600/IMG_8706.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://boobicycles.com/" target="_blank">Boo Bicycle</a>s of Fort Collins showed up with a lot of great bikes, including this super-fatty with bamboo tubes, carbon fiber lugs, and a titanium fork by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BLACKSHEEPBIKES" target="_blank">Black Sheep Cycles.</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAJFXrF2xYMnb-0YmAOmBVmFniJTsBZi34EWsgB6jt3bXolKY0TjH_HwBkemRd6ow3snT2ZIGzV73_r1zdTJ9zyJzksmccNU4d9ULojhbfaHLPSxdEBMYWuq7w_rCQIeVUC_NmwBGe5zl/s1600/IMG_8648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAJFXrF2xYMnb-0YmAOmBVmFniJTsBZi34EWsgB6jt3bXolKY0TjH_HwBkemRd6ow3snT2ZIGzV73_r1zdTJ9zyJzksmccNU4d9ULojhbfaHLPSxdEBMYWuq7w_rCQIeVUC_NmwBGe5zl/s1600/IMG_8648.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of wooden bikes including this beauty by Owen</td></tr>
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<br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-8813625075165620312013-02-20T22:46:00.001-07:002013-02-20T22:46:33.763-07:00Errandonnee ForeverBecause that's what I do. Really. Every day is the <a href="http://chasingmailboxes.com/2013/02/05/winter-challenge-the-errandonnee/" target="_blank">Errandonnee</a> in Fort Collins, the<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/06/americas-top-cities-for-bike-commuting-happier-too/240265/#slide2" target="_blank"> #2 city in our fair country for bike commuting</a> (according to The Atlantic Magazine: )<br />
<br />
Since I don't work at a regular job, my daily life doesn't really involve a "commute", but I do have a sort of regular schedule, things to do, and biking is the way to go. Since moving to Fort Collins in December 2012, there have been many days when my wife's car and my truck have gone nowhere, since it is so easy to get around here by bike. In my old hometown of Worcester, MA, (which didn't even make the list :-( there weren't as many bikes on the road, but the opportunities for biking instead of driving were abundant. There is really not much difference between the two cities, except Fort Collins makes the little bit of effort it takes to be bike friendly - bike trails, bike lanes, and aggressive enforcement of traffic laws for both bikes and motor vehicles. As I've always said: more bikes on the road = even more bikes on the road. We're #2 because biking is the new normal thanks to a shift in infrastructure that recognizes bicycles as belonging to the regular flow of traffic. This is what sustainability looks like!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84GvkhYdPMjuP38leDiDpEFnaxKFN2ay0svX6hSaui1bkVFlxs2fwFhhXr-ptt2-PJZJI9T7vsPLgm_QM_gj31srjC6LVooedD-SSnZTofcB4P4rgIqg4dDmz_xyJCFIRxWYe6BMpOGlF/s1600/IMAG1205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84GvkhYdPMjuP38leDiDpEFnaxKFN2ay0svX6hSaui1bkVFlxs2fwFhhXr-ptt2-PJZJI9T7vsPLgm_QM_gj31srjC6LVooedD-SSnZTofcB4P4rgIqg4dDmz_xyJCFIRxWYe6BMpOGlF/s1600/IMAG1205.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how we rock the trip to the grocery store in a bike friendly town.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-67018520736663546242013-02-18T23:33:00.000-07:002013-02-18T23:33:26.439-07:00Errandonnee Complete!I've been obsessed with "<a href="http://chasingmailboxes.com/2013/02/05/winter-challenge-the-errandonnee/" target="_blank">The Winter Challenge: Errandonee</a>" for the past week, and today I think I have completed it. So far I've done 12 errands while biking 40.6 miles since Feb. 12. I have gone on 8 out of 11 possible different kinds of errands (lunch, coffee, grocery store, bike shop, etc.) and the rules only ask for 7 different kinds. I've also gone out twice after dark (check!), and not used any category more than twice. I have documented my trips with pictures, filled out the control card, and done and done! Here are some take-aways on the experience:<br />
My only regret? Haven't had time to go to the library. <br />
Coldest night ride? Tonight, coming home from the bike coop it was 18 degrees. Chilly.<br />
Longest ride? Out and back to the grocery store at the corner of Drake and Timberline, a 6 mile round-trip.<br />
Lesson learned? OK, I already knew this - most of the stuff you do every day you can do on a bike!<br />
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Here are some more pictures from my adventures errandonneering:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPcvCgKmRdrSr9M4dRBGU8BouPxOhO9VMPgo8F43BqJzyqaXReaC_sjHIGnvZEvSMvREKCmsJyG6f3l1jGUiWKvFtWILIhgVLAPP8ajQMxUwm5gPWwHuKhFy7IUFrYiCi_JNX_K1Mk0eT/s1600/72466823-7E8A-466F-9F4B-A8AD66B01672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPcvCgKmRdrSr9M4dRBGU8BouPxOhO9VMPgo8F43BqJzyqaXReaC_sjHIGnvZEvSMvREKCmsJyG6f3l1jGUiWKvFtWILIhgVLAPP8ajQMxUwm5gPWwHuKhFy7IUFrYiCi_JNX_K1Mk0eT/s1600/72466823-7E8A-466F-9F4B-A8AD66B01672.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of my lighting setup for night riding: the USB rechargeable <a href="http://www.lightandmotion.com/bike/vis360.html" target="_blank">Vis 360 helmet system from Light and Motion</a>. I also use an old Niterider LED rear light (non-blinky) and a Cygolite Hotshot (super bright blinky). I will be seen!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4eUh-S2Xizh_-CUqfh3IchIPISYPKp6tESFLqM1IymZRYNU_-ZU199-2T5w13W3xVKqr03y0rrQ1s0oXdCW4IiQVpSrJBw2Eg06tT_H14IE_MtA3Zc01980yUXgOMsayhFAlJezXO3Ak/s1600/B98A1719-F706-4381-B29F-389B0C8DA1DD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4eUh-S2Xizh_-CUqfh3IchIPISYPKp6tESFLqM1IymZRYNU_-ZU199-2T5w13W3xVKqr03y0rrQ1s0oXdCW4IiQVpSrJBw2Eg06tT_H14IE_MtA3Zc01980yUXgOMsayhFAlJezXO3Ak/s1600/B98A1719-F706-4381-B29F-389B0C8DA1DD.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the <a href="http://fcbikecoop.org/" target="_blank">Fort Collins Bike Coop</a>, hard at work making earn-a-bikes with John.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSxRTH6JsPX1iUwvSHQVY-o2FMllT12Bd3pQ_H_MFZvZmgHk_Q8Jr3MuyHowPvBEbHkfwNaLoFCOG7CiYnZiw3uWHta_Qcs4FrVmMbqL-RvYP8exCH8VL8YLme8CoI2XhE-U8v7-yM21k/s1600/5FFDA007-7E88-4D66-A2E2-47C8FA88F565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSxRTH6JsPX1iUwvSHQVY-o2FMllT12Bd3pQ_H_MFZvZmgHk_Q8Jr3MuyHowPvBEbHkfwNaLoFCOG7CiYnZiw3uWHta_Qcs4FrVmMbqL-RvYP8exCH8VL8YLme8CoI2XhE-U8v7-yM21k/s1600/5FFDA007-7E88-4D66-A2E2-47C8FA88F565.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee to go from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cranknstein" target="_blank">Crankenstein</a>. (Small Americano with soy milk)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqJ4i1EyCt1e0pef4q9e3u_A6yVFDreP5Zgs6gID0wAafRYUAfLsQvZKp9SwMXerr3tji_jvf2lYh_QnaG2rb0pC3wonHsM4N6syztWDrLqeurpsVNb2_Y8CaC8peTUnY1Ha3PJl4hanG/s1600/6F1193B7-97F7-444A-9FB0-6A4AAE789212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqJ4i1EyCt1e0pef4q9e3u_A6yVFDreP5Zgs6gID0wAafRYUAfLsQvZKp9SwMXerr3tji_jvf2lYh_QnaG2rb0pC3wonHsM4N6syztWDrLqeurpsVNb2_Y8CaC8peTUnY1Ha3PJl4hanG/s1600/6F1193B7-97F7-444A-9FB0-6A4AAE789212.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Ace Hardware to get a plastic drop cloth and some masking tape.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYG8CFDeXCamEnkv6plEsyoG4aSmyYUC3eVELcj0LGZ5OLrHkMc9UHjbDEyHqsZWWr-UsQ8yeiZL-cH-HR8ZXk5O_FSBNW9KbBg7WtWF5qfU9iDyANzgdKD4Jjun1PYSkDjatUzgf3h3F/s1600/A19EE982-9758-42DF-9C8A-02B5B8A9BF8F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYG8CFDeXCamEnkv6plEsyoG4aSmyYUC3eVELcj0LGZ5OLrHkMc9UHjbDEyHqsZWWr-UsQ8yeiZL-cH-HR8ZXk5O_FSBNW9KbBg7WtWF5qfU9iDyANzgdKD4Jjun1PYSkDjatUzgf3h3F/s1600/A19EE982-9758-42DF-9C8A-02B5B8A9BF8F.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unloading groceries (most of them were already inside before I remembered to take the picture)<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-16658969230875099302013-02-17T08:51:00.001-07:002013-02-17T08:51:29.377-07:00ErrandonneeringAs soon as I saw the word, I knew it was for me. <a href="http://chasingmailboxes.com/2013/02/05/winter-challenge-the-errandonnee/" target="_blank">Errandonnee</a>. I love bikes: working on them, riding them, reading about them, what have you. If it has to do with bicycles, I'm there. The bottom line though, is that I see the bicycle as the ultimate utility tool. Need to go get something at the grocery store? Hop on the bike. Gotta go to class? Bike it. Want to get out of the house and chill at the coffee shop? No better way to get there. So despite my love of all things bike, and my participation in all sorts of bicycling events, I am, above all, attracted to the pure practicality of bicycling as the most efficient mode of getting where I need to go. The errand enabler!<br />
<br />
Thanks to the wonderful <a href="http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lovely Bicycle!</a> blog, I recently heard about a "Winter Challenge" from fellow bicyclist/blogger <a href="http://chasingmailboxes.com/" target="_blank">Chasing Mailboxes D.C.</a> The authors have concocted an enticing way to inspire us to get out on our bikes despite the cold weather and possible snow on the ground. They call it the Errandonnee: "<span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.600000381469727px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">complete 12 errands in 12 days and ride a total of 30 miles by bike between February 9-20." OK, I know it's already the 17th, but other people have done the whole thing in one or two days, and you can too.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.600000381469727px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.600000381469727px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">In a nutshell, you keep track of your errands (they have a shared document you can use), you prove your various exploits by taking pictures, and you have to do more than, say, just go to the coffee shop every day. So hey, check it out and have some fun, and let me know how you're doing. Right now I've gotta go - biking over to a brunch potluck meeting to find out how I can get involved with using bicyles for food rescue with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FoCofood" target="_blank">Fort Collins Food Rescue</a>. (Community Meeting, #4 on the list for the Winter Challenge :-)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.600000381469727px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.600000381469727px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">Here are some pics from my recent errandonnes:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezouFQikBnuTMDwjyNksBq1FFKxebpGlq5Aywr5_86FOAx3tio7dGw0Mv5sDtn4p87wkSiixImL-9HDXbCj0-cfLc1WAKxBTqy69v48-gxci1SLtLubpk1Xyy3IIvL8cVAy57Rn4_F-u5/s1600/8851A3D4-B834-48FD-9F8A-C4A0D5E08CFE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezouFQikBnuTMDwjyNksBq1FFKxebpGlq5Aywr5_86FOAx3tio7dGw0Mv5sDtn4p87wkSiixImL-9HDXbCj0-cfLc1WAKxBTqy69v48-gxci1SLtLubpk1Xyy3IIvL8cVAy57Rn4_F-u5/s1600/8851A3D4-B834-48FD-9F8A-C4A0D5E08CFE.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a trip to the coffee/beer/bike shop (Yes, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cranknstein" target="_blank">Crankenstein</a> is all that and more) I saw this cool custom keg delivery bike from <a href="http://www.equinoxbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Equinox Brewing Company</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXAbphyphenhyphennpQPaCDDpsb1PUVDG_mEAgXYK_Xqlt_Wy36JAunJZGxP_YG1ra03OukztjrIx-k8XfL1zqC1QPZ-GZAPwzDoHtmkAYDZ0DN65OX-HdhupKuNdRHIxVZYgyxg6wX5m2iz8EinMz/s1600/IMAG1205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXAbphyphenhyphennpQPaCDDpsb1PUVDG_mEAgXYK_Xqlt_Wy36JAunJZGxP_YG1ra03OukztjrIx-k8XfL1zqC1QPZ-GZAPwzDoHtmkAYDZ0DN65OX-HdhupKuNdRHIxVZYgyxg6wX5m2iz8EinMz/s1600/IMAG1205.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a trip to the grocery store I saw a beautiful Yuba Mundo setup. This is some serious errandonneering!<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE6L_73sBfOVkyL7CqAr-rpv2h9N5H6za9vUVeFrjslLtvgDb7J2gbted7A3us-cSJ_twhQHz_3QwOoPOyyxt4Q-VYzGpAmg0Kt6c7bhTpIfwGzWgwG0gRA4Hnp-qGgN2twUP5xYqKk3V/s1600/0A11BD1C-0883-4492-8A27-B1597C2D06D5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE6L_73sBfOVkyL7CqAr-rpv2h9N5H6za9vUVeFrjslLtvgDb7J2gbted7A3us-cSJ_twhQHz_3QwOoPOyyxt4Q-VYzGpAmg0Kt6c7bhTpIfwGzWgwG0gRA4Hnp-qGgN2twUP5xYqKk3V/s1600/0A11BD1C-0883-4492-8A27-B1597C2D06D5.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister lives on the other side of town, and sometimes needs some help taking care of her dog, Dooley, during the day. A bike ride, a little frisbee, and both Dooley and I get some exercise.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-81045832423965430142013-02-16T18:08:00.001-07:002013-02-18T23:48:24.390-07:00A new life in Bicycle ParadiseLots to say here, it's been awhile... I retired from 20 years of teaching last June, spent almost 5 blissful months living the retired lifestyle: coffee, computers, and bicycles, all while getting prepared for our big move from Worcester, MA to Fort Collins, CO. We arrived at our new home on Dec. 20, 2012, survived the Mayan apocalypse the following day, and have proceeded to settle in. Lots to talk about, Fort Collins is a fabulous place to be a bicyclist, but for right now I just want to promote the <a href="http://chasingmailboxes.com/2013/02/05/winter-challenge-the-errandonnee/" target="_blank">Errandonnee</a>, a fun way to get out on your bike despite the cold weather! More updates soon!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On my way to the Fort Collins Club, tire tracks in the dusting of new snow.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-76505475888751083292012-07-01T13:09:00.000-06:002012-07-01T13:13:01.492-06:00A Change in LifestyleJune 21, 2012 was my last day as a public school employee. As of my birthday on July 3, I will be officially retired from teaching after 20 years. Ironically, I haven't had a day off since then, but today I can finally relax! My hat goes off to those teachers who love their schools so much that they spend 30 or 35 years working with youth, but for me, 20 years in the public school arena was enough. I want to spend my time now promoting bicycling and other ways of living a low impact life, as we may have precious few years of profligate consumer living left unless we can radically alter our lifestyles. Thanks to the Mundo, I am able to drive a lot less - I only filled up the tank once in June, and then again today. If I'm careful I hope this tank of fuel can last until the end of August.<br />
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So, what has the Mundo been doing? Going to the <a href="http://www.recworcester.org/" target="_blank">REC Farmers Market</a> every Saturday from 10am - 1pm with the mobile bike repair kit. This past Saturday, 6/30, was proclaimed "Farmers Market Day" by the Mayor of Worcester, <a href="http://www.worcesterma.gov/mayor" target="_blank">Joe Petty</a>. Also in attendance were U.S. Congressman <a href="http://mcgovern.house.gov/" target="_blank">James McGovern</a> and local city councilor <a href="http://www.worcesterma.gov/city-council/rivera" target="_blank">Sarai Rivera</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdugojR5iFWHx9-K4QpspfSsqTnBAqlEIa4RSpFHq-IngkP9cSDuI2zc774aKpZ_ao9ee2KjNc_RqQr9GDFF26k3e5UoZTHvUYEBu-BDmjqCKE_GNs8jxhOa_V7zuEp2PFs7lq1kd_ikF_/s1600/IMAG0163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdugojR5iFWHx9-K4QpspfSsqTnBAqlEIa4RSpFHq-IngkP9cSDuI2zc774aKpZ_ao9ee2KjNc_RqQr9GDFF26k3e5UoZTHvUYEBu-BDmjqCKE_GNs8jxhOa_V7zuEp2PFs7lq1kd_ikF_/s400/IMAG0163.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James McGovern getting some fresh Veggies from our friends at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LunasGardenMA" target="_blank">Luna's Garden</a></td></tr>
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Another big thing last week was having 3 teenage interns at Worcester Earn-a-Bike. The interns are part of a program called <a href="http://bwsupwardboundp.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Upward Bound</a> that provides lots of after-school and summer opportunities for Worcester youth to help their community while preparing academically for college. I was lucky to host Joseph, Immanuel, and Brittany who worked 6 hours a day in the shop from Monday through Thursday last week. The major project was to build 3 workstations where we used to store bikes, move the bike storage, rearrange the tools, and generally reorganize the shop. They really worked hard and not only did we get the shop fixed up better than ever, we also totally tuned-up Brittany's bike and built a bike for Immanuel to earn during regular hours.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSTxaNBUObfY5mWi6WmcdI5voYvfNMc5b6SamSoC-00XBsFmBEjJglsAxeR-8iE6Gmx3u6IiJHIsDW6b_UJPtTpBcKhn1BMbHPT8nc2mO0JNoDaFGo9ymP6Yrp_oRR4Q4HIAyEwSDKxw-/s1600/IMAG0148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSTxaNBUObfY5mWi6WmcdI5voYvfNMc5b6SamSoC-00XBsFmBEjJglsAxeR-8iE6Gmx3u6IiJHIsDW6b_UJPtTpBcKhn1BMbHPT8nc2mO0JNoDaFGo9ymP6Yrp_oRR4Q4HIAyEwSDKxw-/s400/IMAG0148.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting the new tool boards and workbenches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aPCNHCx0BlanN7ktJhttF07gYo9N5kojJAOFxtnSVBpG_Z1EkraAQhFq-HSMuE76yFW6F5ebDyuzovz7N94_reqLoYBLLZfT9XCg6iasCB7RRkMyc4b6CvTbZuP97rOwWuSAnkPMbskV/s1600/IMAG0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aPCNHCx0BlanN7ktJhttF07gYo9N5kojJAOFxtnSVBpG_Z1EkraAQhFq-HSMuE76yFW6F5ebDyuzovz7N94_reqLoYBLLZfT9XCg6iasCB7RRkMyc4b6CvTbZuP97rOwWuSAnkPMbskV/s400/IMAG0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All finished with the new workstations</td></tr>
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Anyway, a super busy week after the craziness of finishing up my last school year, and now I'm able to relax, think, and plan for the next phase of my life. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-74928458234116034232012-06-25T20:28:00.000-06:002012-06-25T20:28:49.695-06:00The Mundo goes to SchoolHere in Worcester (2nd biggest city in New England doncha know) there are a lot of very cool things going on. We've blogged here about some of them: The Co-op Caravan, the REC Farmers Market, the Firehouse, and plenty more. One of the groups that is making things happen is the <a href="http://worcesterfreeschool.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Worcester Freeschool</a>, a sort of school without walls that connects people and the community with stuff they can learn to help them become.... Everything: Independent, aware, inspired, and able to build a more sustainable future. On Sunday the 24th we had a bicycle maintenance skill-share at Crystal Park on a beautiful early summer day. The Mundo was enlisted to bring all the tools, parts, workstands, and training aids (old wheels to practice fixing flats). Hooked up the trailer with the new, improved hitch, loaded up and headed over to the park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YCmld1_uUDCXnmwWN5Z-f2a3j-VghxKZhdybGr-jux84vgI5vHdFSHuPqJdeFwfr95V2A2geU-X9-KSgQg71ZlckIyml7qtSUIfI-BkaRt0FCylhWHKdY0gOPht6WeLtdBafatAgNopE/s1600/IMAG0102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YCmld1_uUDCXnmwWN5Z-f2a3j-VghxKZhdybGr-jux84vgI5vHdFSHuPqJdeFwfr95V2A2geU-X9-KSgQg71ZlckIyml7qtSUIfI-BkaRt0FCylhWHKdY0gOPht6WeLtdBafatAgNopE/s400/IMAG0102.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modified some 1" square pipe to fit the<a href="http://www.burley.com/home/bur/page_454/nomad.html" target="_blank"> Burley</a> trailer <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Burley-Design-Connector-Round-Black/dp/B001GSQXUG/ref=pd_sim_sg_1" target="_blank">flex connector</a><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOfn_eKPuqAt_BSBI625gyoON-hJx4JeMZfMkXSpE3HqvW9ETvIczJh85FK0_6EebaX_cO9XCSdmENp5LGmcWwgxDdSNXljX2PTREkH_MvnC3XBxjnzTas2Kl4HfGNx5Q1QEk47iziy5H/s1600/IMAG0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOfn_eKPuqAt_BSBI625gyoON-hJx4JeMZfMkXSpE3HqvW9ETvIczJh85FK0_6EebaX_cO9XCSdmENp5LGmcWwgxDdSNXljX2PTREkH_MvnC3XBxjnzTas2Kl4HfGNx5Q1QEk47iziy5H/s400/IMAG0103.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Burley on it's new hitch</td></tr>
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Spent about 2 1/2 hours talking bikes, tools, and the what and why of Earn-a-Bike. Everyone who brought a bike got a chance to fix whatever needed fixing or adjusting, everyone learned a lot, and I think we all went home feeling great about why we love bikes!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28PG_s8yB4uHDYAmolif9dRDHAsg5XblwBlA4jD2_VAupDjNaUp3OxVGm48MfcRiaTwihNYTSNGrbQrvIOwcJtwePhBx0bSQmlZOKKc2LrXiUjrGcKoAJgGnVdWjYXYOgCJnqMgadJbW0/s1600/IMAG0130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28PG_s8yB4uHDYAmolif9dRDHAsg5XblwBlA4jD2_VAupDjNaUp3OxVGm48MfcRiaTwihNYTSNGrbQrvIOwcJtwePhBx0bSQmlZOKKc2LrXiUjrGcKoAJgGnVdWjYXYOgCJnqMgadJbW0/s400/IMAG0130.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mundo arrives at Crystal Park with everything needed for the skill-share</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPvnqOAiICVScluqkKUcOeVfcozoFm54m24cFTZSyVTBA4q_IKYWrWo2ze_RRYgpb2Ye1fotyuuj-kNHi1Y0OjVP9yE_Mw3QhznFSwfslmZDTHDdMInLvCQprbn7fI1AgHM3S5Ic-Dyry/s1600/IMAG0133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPvnqOAiICVScluqkKUcOeVfcozoFm54m24cFTZSyVTBA4q_IKYWrWo2ze_RRYgpb2Ye1fotyuuj-kNHi1Y0OjVP9yE_Mw3QhznFSwfslmZDTHDdMInLvCQprbn7fI1AgHM3S5Ic-Dyry/s400/IMAG0133.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bliss of a good floor pump and proper tire pressure!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklAUXAMYc9IRzUy9mc_4yja_tYjIHayhrypGscJPOzxaJWPU7qOtvRamZN3aNU2_75zXbogsz6XF4FgmoCDYA-G7U8JGRr1CAbbtkSOevfcgx-FQkrXgVSUF_hP7gBHsp04Bfw_yubCyY/s1600/IMAG0135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklAUXAMYc9IRzUy9mc_4yja_tYjIHayhrypGscJPOzxaJWPU7qOtvRamZN3aNU2_75zXbogsz6XF4FgmoCDYA-G7U8JGRr1CAbbtkSOevfcgx-FQkrXgVSUF_hP7gBHsp04Bfw_yubCyY/s400/IMAG0135.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The power of having a workstand to help get all your neglected maintenance done</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLJNywxP3EMPSUo0F_VAIxCgrCS73LiuxM2BQg9H1tH-LTZQV6QhN6igArgLKjRZdH1TIB2iNBlK1P85eQl8qOjScfrl0Yeu00dwnX4a8leZOncQ86oTrYugNGWmAFzItYoR9-7Ip6Exx/s1600/IMAG0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLJNywxP3EMPSUo0F_VAIxCgrCS73LiuxM2BQg9H1tH-LTZQV6QhN6igArgLKjRZdH1TIB2iNBlK1P85eQl8qOjScfrl0Yeu00dwnX4a8leZOncQ86oTrYugNGWmAFzItYoR9-7Ip6Exx/s400/IMAG0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going through the safety checklist on a new-to-her bicycle</td></tr>
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Thanks to Dana and Liz from the freeschool for putting this together and inviting <a href="http://worcesterearnabike.org/" target="_blank">Worcester Earn-a-Bike</a> to be a part of all the classes and workshops they are arranging this year. We loved it!<br />
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-53180208169200416592012-06-16T15:59:00.003-06:002012-06-16T16:18:31.233-06:00Mundo Mobile Earn-a-Bike!Today was the first trial run of something I've wanted to do for a long time. A couple of years ago my friend Josh was living in Boston and volunteered with the <a href="http://bostoncyclistsunion.org/campaigns/market/" target="_blank">Boston Cyclists Union</a> to run a portable bike repair setup at Boston area farmers markets. He had a trailer with tools and a workstand, and he would go to 2 or 3 different farmers markets during the week and repair bikes while people shopped. I thought it was a great idea, but didn't have time to try it here in Worcester until this summer. So today was the first day of the <a href="http://www.recworcester.org/what-we-do/food-justice-2/rec-community-farmers-markets/" target="_blank">Regional Environmental Council</a> Farmers Market, and <a href="http://worcesterearnabike.org/" target="_blank">Earn-a-Bike</a> was there with the Mundo! I packed the go-getter bag with spare parts, tubes, flyers, and lubes and cleaners, I strapped a tool box to the rack, and hooked up a trailer to carry the tent, workstand, pump, and a couple of bikes to promote our <a href="https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2h3_QUBtxUlcEVWZnB6VTBJLWs" target="_blank">$5 Kids Bike Sale</a>. Here's the Mundo loaded up to go:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzmfU5Y4aAVCzVNxKncZ38KMhZ09X9xCKfouh1Qbzapuh0IORB9ucYxHl4BYis0geYcRQLZbvd2SNPHJF9e0TXnZS_eupYY_9lp9Bfp9lXP-xttwSZr-WVLc870n38HEIZoN-CRm8WGN3/s1600/IMAG0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzmfU5Y4aAVCzVNxKncZ38KMhZ09X9xCKfouh1Qbzapuh0IORB9ucYxHl4BYis0geYcRQLZbvd2SNPHJF9e0TXnZS_eupYY_9lp9Bfp9lXP-xttwSZr-WVLc870n38HEIZoN-CRm8WGN3/s400/IMAG0069.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to roll with everything for a mobile bike repair setup.<br />
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The Worcester Regional Environmental Council is an amazing organization, if you don't know them you should check out their <a href="http://www.recworcester.org/" target="_blank">website</a>. The farmers markets are part of their food justice initiative, and includes community gardens, school gardens, "cooking matters", and the incredible YouthGrow Farm, where neighborhood kids learn to be farmers while earning money. Earn-a-Bike is very excited to be part of the farmers market and bring mobile bike repair back to the heart of Main South Worcester every Saturday (except July 7).<br />
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Here's some more pictures of our setup at the farmers market and other vendors:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FvIBmFvnQaKrUzO6tX0yAFZdmhaYoneQZlrAiaOdJcni1Pc0s_30RTRFs5uMj23NC0RjpClXLrOAuSqv0MLWGiPnY9TGVvZJDSDjNxkeIcpx7zrj0O3jftHrENgmX8Z26V9CHn5byFYb/s1600/IMAG0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FvIBmFvnQaKrUzO6tX0yAFZdmhaYoneQZlrAiaOdJcni1Pc0s_30RTRFs5uMj23NC0RjpClXLrOAuSqv0MLWGiPnY9TGVvZJDSDjNxkeIcpx7zrj0O3jftHrENgmX8Z26V9CHn5byFYb/s400/IMAG0071.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9jMarbrX-SWynbBPst4W5wiS4z3x5hJ1NgrLdACTNuUDN_Qsr0pxSYNF2CJ-wYDQmQE06256qzATilrntULIp0N9u6wxb0jinlWLH8GiBrpp36zuX5DuMoQ8Uzl0CJ4vcJFSjPMxJdwq/s1600/IMAG0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9jMarbrX-SWynbBPst4W5wiS4z3x5hJ1NgrLdACTNuUDN_Qsr0pxSYNF2CJ-wYDQmQE06256qzATilrntULIp0N9u6wxb0jinlWLH8GiBrpp36zuX5DuMoQ8Uzl0CJ4vcJFSjPMxJdwq/s400/IMAG0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All this stuff fit on the Mundo and the trailer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlKGVDfCq48msDY5XUcJ5fqEk-3Y8LuXw0Ze7MeTwlWPK5Vu_91su_3off4V3lc273ay1OkgyWOoRxFdU5XFfTGR23We1k8vKUZRG1gplKeAoC8ZG8lx1zrP1q_Ogd0OZzlSe3oEql9Wm/s1600/IMAG0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlKGVDfCq48msDY5XUcJ5fqEk-3Y8LuXw0Ze7MeTwlWPK5Vu_91su_3off4V3lc273ay1OkgyWOoRxFdU5XFfTGR23We1k8vKUZRG1gplKeAoC8ZG8lx1zrP1q_Ogd0OZzlSe3oEql9Wm/s400/IMAG0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://senergysm.com/NuestroHuerto/home.html" target="_blank">Nuestro Huerto Community Farm </a>with one of their bike/trailer setups.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVt9l07z_PcDRaeOTHhKTonniP4RKTib1XpDofkpbbFdFriO9sriz6vZEX_w77pzHDATcyIbpJxETIEJZyYA0DqEIKvd56nRcEqx7EbNRB4bP-ksSDsuNb6vjKbSOeJWD_bsU0jU5tdkh/s1600/IMAG0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVt9l07z_PcDRaeOTHhKTonniP4RKTib1XpDofkpbbFdFriO9sriz6vZEX_w77pzHDATcyIbpJxETIEJZyYA0DqEIKvd56nRcEqx7EbNRB4bP-ksSDsuNb6vjKbSOeJWD_bsU0jU5tdkh/s400/IMAG0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A locally made bike trailer by <a href="http://flintstonecar.com/" target="_blank">Scott</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q-KozynOW7SD7kazViX-3S-ZhxYPOxXtz_f_WwRZwrbWi0lkNVxOIEkfVtGr8gri2CsbFU1-CBzmREuYVRElI90JuZZ0Qb31YHkDszwsuDZZa5-LlVS0Pc0BgSQziH_7VwL9Eqalj1pY/s1600/IMAG0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q-KozynOW7SD7kazViX-3S-ZhxYPOxXtz_f_WwRZwrbWi0lkNVxOIEkfVtGr8gri2CsbFU1-CBzmREuYVRElI90JuZZ0Qb31YHkDszwsuDZZa5-LlVS0Pc0BgSQziH_7VwL9Eqalj1pY/s400/IMAG0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids adding percussion to the performance by <a href="http://jonshort.com/" target="_blank">Big Jon Short</a>, Bluesman extraordinaire.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukX-lG6UDl9EB9_ERMO81ch3FjrGKZCo8r_pUjZCUxSjDplcYOBgA_EfnIDffREzrPJANuRlhHagWdueCreGgGxOkknIk7k-yMStt2LX10ga2mcs20V6vvqEk2p-ImqMAxnQo2mCRoWqE/s1600/IMAG0078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukX-lG6UDl9EB9_ERMO81ch3FjrGKZCo8r_pUjZCUxSjDplcYOBgA_EfnIDffREzrPJANuRlhHagWdueCreGgGxOkknIk7k-yMStt2LX10ga2mcs20V6vvqEk2p-ImqMAxnQo2mCRoWqE/s400/IMAG0078.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmers markets tend to bring out the bikes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBfmNcwGRQOtjVyokWXV19SHincRYvKVcy4JTvijzzrURi3sWXGXW7yMg84_q6zblbXoN1YaazDaDISVmRR6_lgA88FcxUDY8xVqoTf72Eq4UBvGO_9WIThyneiWc-xeD4YbY8Q2sq0Em/s1600/IMAG0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBfmNcwGRQOtjVyokWXV19SHincRYvKVcy4JTvijzzrURi3sWXGXW7yMg84_q6zblbXoN1YaazDaDISVmRR6_lgA88FcxUDY8xVqoTf72Eq4UBvGO_9WIThyneiWc-xeD4YbY8Q2sq0Em/s400/IMAG0081.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the people from the REC YouthGrow Farm selling their bomb hot sauce.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-34014266476566906392012-06-10T15:52:00.001-06:002012-06-12T20:23:59.542-06:00A Saturday Morning on the MundoSo yesterday morning I had a lot to do before opening the <a href="http://worcesterearnabike.org/" target="_blank">Earn-a-Bike</a> shop at 11. It was a beautiful, cool morning, so after a quick breakfast I got the Mundo out and headed over to the store for some groceries. Wasn't going to have time later, we had to leave Worcester right after Earn-a-Bike at 4 to go down to the Cape to see my parents. They have just arrived at their Hyannis area house for the summer, and always need a little help settling in. They are both in their late 80's now, but doing well! <br />
<br />
Anyway, went to the local organic food store and got some things that I'll need when we get back (Especially coffee: I like a mix of the Sumatran and Ethiopian from <a href="http://www.acousticjava.com/" target="_blank">Roastmeister,</a> another great Worcester endeavor).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ba_4IHamkDnDmDlTkAkPT87AN8YWJG5rrpeTVFHynzBX7CjsgUMdUXGGMTLpKR_shK_buvOZzV5M-Snt28-BY6LLuDbG82XGwnnw7nioN4YIgUe4ZKpLswzWpPvKhAJCkYSWbr-lhDp1/s1600/IMAG0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ba_4IHamkDnDmDlTkAkPT87AN8YWJG5rrpeTVFHynzBX7CjsgUMdUXGGMTLpKR_shK_buvOZzV5M-Snt28-BY6LLuDbG82XGwnnw7nioN4YIgUe4ZKpLswzWpPvKhAJCkYSWbr-lhDp1/s400/IMAG0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The electric Mundo, a hybrid electric/human powered vehicle next to the Prius Gas/electric hybrid. Give me human/electric anyday.</td></tr>
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<br />
Ran into my friend Dave M. who was also out and about early on a Saturday. Nice to see him, and then it was back home to put away the food and then take the go-getter bag off the bike so I could go drop off some old books at the Goodwill and then to Home Depot and get some mulch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0hE4dtm71ygjjqgT0WPiPO_G-1FhTxZxzI42cgW6ndlVgTmY6ddB361WviaYnTqvO0Govv6jjjO_l1vGFw2wPWIHx812cOd6z78zdTwyTEc4bhIl6g1Hdoz6VV2pFqcsVdww7TVcSIng/s1600/IMAG0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0hE4dtm71ygjjqgT0WPiPO_G-1FhTxZxzI42cgW6ndlVgTmY6ddB361WviaYnTqvO0Govv6jjjO_l1vGFw2wPWIHx812cOd6z78zdTwyTEc4bhIl6g1Hdoz6VV2pFqcsVdww7TVcSIng/s400/IMAG0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boxes of books on the rack for the Goodwill store.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Three 50 lb. bags, lashed them to the rear rack, and headed back home to make the container garden area look a little nicer. Needed to lay down the mulch under the containers so we wouldn't have the problem of grass growing all around them. Also, on my way to HD another friend pedaled up behind me and said hi. He was on his way home from his 6 am Saturday morning group ride. Worcester is such a great place to be in the summer!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9-cTeliJIjzGcX2jjj3z4afPJKFnzNKGnIjndr8RRjNcKOtoyPu49Ovgrj5r2yYOGce01PoBJDJbSVeL1veqmCDMmsB9te5Ljn9PkehvnLhgI7XmxWb4EvvtO1W1rO-vyhZeNOr4Yab0/s1600/IMAG0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9-cTeliJIjzGcX2jjj3z4afPJKFnzNKGnIjndr8RRjNcKOtoyPu49Ovgrj5r2yYOGce01PoBJDJbSVeL1veqmCDMmsB9te5Ljn9PkehvnLhgI7XmxWb4EvvtO1W1rO-vyhZeNOr4Yab0/s400/IMAG0062.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loaded up with mulch!</td></tr>
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So I got a lot accomplished and had a great time riding and seeing friends, and as usual some of the people at Home Depot were really interested in the Mundo, it's always fun to be out talking to people about what a bike can do!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-i93de_jF2sStvtmbL-DONpUtW8yFhSvD6HCoFdMwt_uVzoO9WlytAILB5bv5rNxYqna4IhUHy3JYljsDYHIdDsrKTnpnSrc4JAK1BU1TTAE3QQRcMALdV1wL1rOyB6wB3oX7SrIciVGm/s1600/IMAG0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-i93de_jF2sStvtmbL-DONpUtW8yFhSvD6HCoFdMwt_uVzoO9WlytAILB5bv5rNxYqna4IhUHy3JYljsDYHIdDsrKTnpnSrc4JAK1BU1TTAE3QQRcMALdV1wL1rOyB6wB3oX7SrIciVGm/s400/IMAG0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mulch for the container garden. Kale and tomatoes, CSA for the rest :-)</td></tr>
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<br />
And just for fun, here's a picture of me and my mother down at North Bay after getting her boat put together on the beach, ready for a summer of easy sailing!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3GrqeJ_1VA8prUnkZOkrfPVHTFPTw5fObUOxmaQ8nXTYc1hhhm4vaYRPYd8ZUm2RfkMVgq_rGb4dj_5ScVUl34nkafHRvMNorJdKO3Tms6ybJsn9ayzgG2UEAbz_eXtlLx7f7dWN87aV/s1600/IMAG0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3GrqeJ_1VA8prUnkZOkrfPVHTFPTw5fObUOxmaQ8nXTYc1hhhm4vaYRPYd8ZUm2RfkMVgq_rGb4dj_5ScVUl34nkafHRvMNorJdKO3Tms6ybJsn9ayzgG2UEAbz_eXtlLx7f7dWN87aV/s400/IMAG0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mother and I with the main hull of the Windrider trimaran at its summer home on the beach at North Bay.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-44608532578949824582012-06-07T15:31:00.001-06:002012-06-07T15:31:31.702-06:00Dodging Raindrops and Drinking Lemonade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finally got to ride the Mundo to work today, it's been raining a lot this week. Even today we had a couple of episodes of heavy rain and thunder, but I was lucky to get home this afternoon without getting too wet, and had a lovely (real) lemonade from Lala Java on the way home. As for the rain, once again there seemed to be a rain cloud nestled in to the Lake Quinsigamond valley between Shrewsbury and Worcester. Every time I ride on a potentially rainy day it is _always_ raining there. Oh well. Here's a pic of the rain clouds coming in from the center of Shrewsbury, using my new HTC Evo 4G LTE phone as my camera, with the setting on HDR (High Dynamic Range):<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQA_dVnI-sjSJNmQFVNYjcQTsPD7AIXi7LGXpcAqXkcGhgPocj3swtYUuSgF_SNtNrOOfKTFESBgGRelLoRLu6IGbmMGCNYvWMPDBeNV4tjakoCRuR0cnc9Utgd2i9y04e4OM1QJH3Q4m9/s1600/IMAG0060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQA_dVnI-sjSJNmQFVNYjcQTsPD7AIXi7LGXpcAqXkcGhgPocj3swtYUuSgF_SNtNrOOfKTFESBgGRelLoRLu6IGbmMGCNYvWMPDBeNV4tjakoCRuR0cnc9Utgd2i9y04e4OM1QJH3Q4m9/s400/IMAG0060.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain clouds moving in towards Shrewsbury</td></tr>
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Love the camera on this new phone, I look forward to getting some good pics on my rides without having to bring the DSLR.<br />
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And on a totally unrelated/un-Mundo note, I finally achieved my goal of surpassing the highest scoring student at my school on Temple Run. I know it's still pathetic compared to the real masters out there, but I am the King of Temple Run in my classroom. Love it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_d1Zlnqxv1y1PYV0wu2JMT7Kc4KaihImgLYz_hSmQYGY-kB_nW4p079k7EzExAWqaNRAprWp0LR2tSl7A95OYMgTj5lIATpKvofiMN3-o_wpGv1owSGSqdhAhAi8PSDkYk5s_EWuemRfF/s1600/Screenshot_2012-06-07-12-50-26.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_d1Zlnqxv1y1PYV0wu2JMT7Kc4KaihImgLYz_hSmQYGY-kB_nW4p079k7EzExAWqaNRAprWp0LR2tSl7A95OYMgTj5lIATpKvofiMN3-o_wpGv1owSGSqdhAhAi8PSDkYk5s_EWuemRfF/s400/Screenshot_2012-06-07-12-50-26.png" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Phoenix Record!<br /></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007258581139944530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650411187557882855.post-2729697295839815362012-06-04T19:57:00.000-06:002012-06-04T19:57:14.014-06:00No commuting today or tomorrow, lousy weather here in New England in the beginning of June. Ugh!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvj3YF0YItLN0IUoblMDttOAaSIwKWwaU-eSXjG0U35dyz1fCOq_8jszp2B0OvGyMCeUV4jAyfvT_Wn8yhQGoumKHOPVbfUEID4EAcOLGqvDPxDbZbQbPcyehxpaAiJj8s8uxq9xogsS4/s1600/2012-06-04_19-56-45.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvj3YF0YItLN0IUoblMDttOAaSIwKWwaU-eSXjG0U35dyz1fCOq_8jszp2B0OvGyMCeUV4jAyfvT_Wn8yhQGoumKHOPVbfUEID4EAcOLGqvDPxDbZbQbPcyehxpaAiJj8s8uxq9xogsS4/s320/2012-06-04_19-56-45.png" width="180" /></a></div>
However, the bad weather broke long enough for a fabulous ride at the <a href="http://bikesnotbombs.org/bike-a-thon" target="_blank">Bikes not Bombs Bike-o-Thon</a> on Sunday the 3rd. Team <a href="http://worcesterearnabike.org/" target="_blank">Worcester Earn-a-Bike</a> (Me, Steph, Rebecca, and Paula) brought all the EAB propaganda and set up a table for the <a href="http://bikesnotbombs.org/bike-a-thon/green-roots-festival" target="_blank">Green Roots Festival</a>, and then all of us except Paula went on the 25 mile ride. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOBBOqiQoYVEDbwdDCp4FMjSi_qSMwvL3g-BCcOO7wVq8hyphenhyphen_PncMOTqBEvKvHpYzi0_YYpkF_BP4hPFeC8RejcVY6WRGKB5l0oHssOKVAs0zoqSNAIu0R1VG_9QEQ_40TztzK1graW4JZ/s1600/Team+EAB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOBBOqiQoYVEDbwdDCp4FMjSi_qSMwvL3g-BCcOO7wVq8hyphenhyphen_PncMOTqBEvKvHpYzi0_YYpkF_BP4hPFeC8RejcVY6WRGKB5l0oHssOKVAs0zoqSNAIu0R1VG_9QEQ_40TztzK1graW4JZ/s320/Team+EAB.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gray, Steph, and Rebecca ready for the Bike-o-Thon</td></tr>
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The Bike-o-Thon is the major fundraiser for Bikes not Bombs, and at the end of the day yesterday they had raised $105,000! Excellent! If anyone out there in blog-land wants to contribute to them, you can click <a href="http://bikesnotbombs.org/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
The 25 mile ride takes the riders on a beautiful ride through idyllic parks, quiet streets with Victorian era houses, and up through the Blue Hills reservation. Really nice. Rode the electric Mundo, of course, and then Steph and I traded at the half-way point. She is now a Mundo convert!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oBX7rxyzwXBndWZwZwncVlY__Cy8BbjHHwnaP6XdFRnMAkx3ADSQovw3I8iL74aYwLoklICJU4LB0wJp6hULi7kemh3qbqfof68nG0BdIiJUoNf6nyhImu8_oiwJ3n_5wLJLHQ6POFZP/s1600/Steph+on+the+Mundo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oBX7rxyzwXBndWZwZwncVlY__Cy8BbjHHwnaP6XdFRnMAkx3ADSQovw3I8iL74aYwLoklICJU4LB0wJp6hULi7kemh3qbqfof68nG0BdIiJUoNf6nyhImu8_oiwJ3n_5wLJLHQ6POFZP/s400/Steph+on+the+Mundo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steph takes over on the Mundo</td></tr>
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After the ride, we hung out at the Earn-a-Bike info table and talked with a lot of very cool people about Earn-a-Bike, bikes, music, and food. And coffee. Paula and I took a ride on the Mundo over to the Ula Cafe for coffee and cookies, and that started a stampede of people wanting to try out the Mundo. Lots of happy people!<br />
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Also, I finally got to meet John Partridge, the guy from <a href="http://www.ferriswheelsbikeshop.com/" target="_blank">Ferris Wheels Bike shop</a> who actually built my Mundo for me. It was great to talk to him and show him the <a href="http://www.ebikes.ca/store/store_ezee.php" target="_blank">electric kit</a> and <a href="http://www.pingbattery.com/servlet/the-27/36v-15ah-lifepo4-battery/Detail" target="_blank">15Ah LiFePO4 </a>battery I installed, and also to check out some of the other Mundo's at the Fest that had come through Ferris Wheels. John rigged up a nifty brake light for their shop Mundo, a project I'm going to try this summer. Details when I do it.<br />
Lots of other cool cargo bikes at the Fest, I think Boston is going to be the next Portland (except with better weather???). Here's some pics:<br />
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And finally, here's a picture of the Earn-a-Bike info booth and Paula, who was the set-up person while the rest of us were out riding.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rebecca and Paula</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earn-a-Bike info table with the Mundo</td></tr>
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