• bicycles,  bicycling,  Transportation

    New Wheels

    So I purchased some new wheels, a Class 1 electric bicycle. I have been thinking about one for a while but never seriously did anything about it, allowing it to remain a fantasy. It has been a part of the idea of simplifying my life and reducing my carbon footprint. I was also highly influenced by a book titled Curbing Traffic that was recommended to me by one of the baristas at a coffee shop. Over the past few years I have driven my car less , using the city’s mass transit and walking. I primarily use my car as an escape from the city, bulky groceries, traveling longer distances or when cold, or inclimate weather convinces me to take the car.

    On the advice of a friend and since I had never ridden one, I decided I would take one out for a test ride. Fortunately or unfortunately, it was love at first ride. I handed them my credit card when I got back. I even liked the color! 😁 I made the purchase on August 9th and have already ridden over 200 miles with it. Hopefully, over the next few weeks I’ll share with you information about how it’s working out for me and what I’m learning. So far everything is positive, almost feeling like a kid again. Even though I’ve ridden bicycles throughout my life, this is turning out to be a new experience. I’m 74 years old and wondered if I was too old for this; primarily my strength, balance and reaction time. I am also discovering that an e-bike rides differently, so there are plenty of lessons to learn. Pedaling on….

  • bicycles,  landscape,  natural areas,  seasons,  snow,  Transportation,  winter scenes

    All Geared Up

    It was in the mid 30’s when I took this image of the rider at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area this afternoon. As you can tell a little snow and cold does not stop the avid bicyclist in Colorado. They gear up just as you would for skiing or snowmobiling. This guy was on one of those fat tire bikes, with those massive tires for snow. Shortly after taking this image the sun poked its head out, gave me shadows in the snow and made me smile.

  • bicycles,  Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  Transportation,  winter scenes

    It’s cold this morning here….

    Tis a bit cold this morning

    … but the good news is we’re suppose to reach a high of 23 degrees to day. After seeing this on my phone app, I bundled up and headed for the bus. There was no desire to scrape ice and snow off the windshield of my car and deal with traffic or parking. This storm brought us 4 inches of snow, making everything have that beautiful winter scene. But, dang the cold! Anyway….

  • bicycles,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  Transportation

    Orbiting the Earth

    Bicycles on campus at Recycled Cycles store

    I saw this row of bicycle tires while waiting for the bus at the CSU Transit Center this past week. I found it interesting so I knelt down and took a couple of images. They were commuter bikes the students can easily afford because they are stripped down with one gear and one brake in the rear. They were white bicycles and white rims. Gotta get the shot.

    I now find that getting back up after squatting is more of a struggle than 10 years ago. It take me longer to get back up and I’m noticing a strange sound emanating from the left knee. Right now I’m just ignoring it. I’m suspecting it to be due to aging, getting older, passing of time or gas or I’ve done it way too many times.

  • bicycles,  Cityscapes/Urban,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  quotes,  Travel

    Favorite ice cream flavor is…

    A bicycle on the streets in Richmond, Virginia

    “Until you got ice cream spilled on you, you’re not doing field work.” Randy Pausch

    This image is also from 2010 while on an overnight in Richmond. It really is a busy image. But it brings up a memory for me from just one word in the image. I’ll always remember when my granddaughter told me her favorite ice cream flavor was red. No need to argue with her. 🙂

  • bicycles,  Black and White,  Documentary/Street

    Spiral

    It’s about time to get back on my bicycle after a long hiatus due to lack of energy, then surgery and recovery and now the weather is getting nice again. I’m now at a local coffee shop while I have some work done on my car. Seems it needs surgery, also. This image is one of the unique bicycle racks around town. Some are truly pieces of art.

    It looks like I will have surgery on my left on May 8th then the right eye on June 4th. I had some difficulty with insurance but that is all straightened out. I will be flying to Phoenix on May 10th to celebrate my parents 70th anniversary.