• bicycling,  quotes

    Thanks

    December 12, 2024

    Whoever invented the bicycle deserves the thanks of humanity.

    Lord Charles Beresford

    It was 23 degrees when I rode my bicycle to the coffee shop. I missed the past two mornings because it was below 20 degrees, windy, and humid. I’m not tough enough to go any colder. This image was taken from a foot bridge on the Mason Trail over Spring Creek. As I’ve mentioned before I am able to stop almost anywhere along the trails for photo opportunities, which I can’t do in my car. I also am closer to nature scenes on the bicycle trails.

    In reference to the quote I am at a place in life where I have much more appreciation for whoever invented the bicycle. There are several claims on the invention but the first verifiable claim for a practically used bicycle belongs to German Barón Karl von Drais Sauerbronn1, a civil servant to the Grand Duke of Baden in Germany. Drais invented his Laufmaschine (German for “running machine”) in 1817, that was called Draisine (English) or draisienne (French) by the press. Karl von Drais patented this design in 1818, which was the first commercially successful two-wheeled, steerable, human-propelled machine, commonly called a velocipede, and nicknamed hobby-horse or dandy horse. I wonder what he would think of the e-bike and our bicycle trails. Anyway, I offer thanks to whoever!

    1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_bicycle ↩︎
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  • bicycling,  clouds,  landscape,  nature,  quotes,  reflections

    A Time in Wilderness

    August 18, 2024

    “It is a commonplace of all religious thought, even the most primitive, that the man seeking visions and insight must go apart from his fellows and love for a time in the wilderness.”

    Loren Eiseley

    Fort Collins is a Platinum-rated Bicycle Friendly Community and maintains more than 200 miles of dedicated bike lanes and 50 miles of marked or signed bike routes. I have been riding them the last week or so and finding gems everywhere. You may be seeing more images taken along these trails and blog posts about them. I can be on the Spring Creek Trail after a short 2 block ride from my condo. Yesterday evening I headed east on the Spring Creek trail then connected to the Poudre Trail. I had the pleasure of having a white tail doe and her two fawns pass in front of me, and squirrels and rabbits darting in front of me. The fawns were still in their spots. It will be interesting to ride these trails in the different seasons and watch how things in nature change. I am realizing how easy it is to be close to nature within this city when on these trails. Enjoy your Sunday!!

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  • bicycles,  Black and White,  Documentary/Street

    Spiral

    April 25, 2019

    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.

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