Seattle to Portland unbeatable record

Those of you who’ve been reading my blog since this time last year will recall my record completion of the Seattle to Portland bike tour in fifteen minutes . For additional proof, see even more photos of that event. I declined to participate this year, knowing there was no way I could top my previous performance.

Tomorrow I’ll share with you this year’s feat, which was Seattle to Portland in four hours – which I accomplished weekend before last on a train. Anything but a car.

Trib article about Clever Cycles

I’m booked solid this week with hardly a minute to spare. I promise I'll be much more bloggy next week. Meanwhile, you might want to read my article in the Tribune on the most amazing new bike shop. Remember how I blogged a year or so ago about the rare Dutch Cargo Bike I spotted? We now have our very own distributor right here in Portland. Also, Brompton foldables, all the way from Britain. I had so much fun writing this! Of course the paper changed things, which in my opinion didn’t need changing. Took out some good quotes, etc. And they never use my fabulous headline suggestions. Whatever. I’ve stopped caring. I just want the money.

Promised Thong Photo At Last

OK everybody, I’m back from Seattle! And I have great trip pictures to show you, but not today. Today I have a higher priority: I have the promised thong picture! Yes, here it is, and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, scroll down to Wednesday's posting and read all about it.

Yet another alternative to the car

Darn, I still haven't bought that cord yet, but the thong photo is coming, I promise.

It's my birthday and I'll be spending it on the train rolling through some beautiful Oregon swamplands visible only from the tracks. About an hour from now I'll be looking out the train window reading a novel and working my way through a chocolate bar dark as the night.

The taxi will be here in 5 minutes.

Bye.

Anybody lose a thong?

I took my very first cellphone photo on my way over to my hidey hole this morning! Except I don’t have the little cord that makes it go inside the computer, so I can’t show it to you yet. But anyway here’s my blog posting that goes with it – I’ll try and buy the cord tomorrow and insert the photo here. [X]

This thing’s been lying at the edge of the bike path on the east approach to the Broadway Bridge for at least a week. I think it’s very considerate of people to leave it there, given that the owner might well come back looking for it. On the other hand, why would anyone nab it? Who would want a used thong? Ew.

What I’d like to know is how a person could lose their thong along the side of the road and not even notice.

Although – I’ve heard that wearing a thong is like wearing nothing at all, so maybe if you lose one, you don’t feel any different so you just go along your merry way as if nothing had happened.

And of course the other mystery is, who would wear a thong on a bike?

I don’t know about you, but I’d feel squeamish. I for one would want more than that between my skin and the road.

Anyway, if you see anyone walking around thongless, send them here.

PET peeve # 756

Uh, excuse me, but is this allowed?

Do they really need to take up room on the sidewalk as well as use up one of our scarce bike racks? Must I be forced to risk a confrontation with a potentially vicious dog who is likely to perceive himself as having been assigned to guard the bike rack?

Since a dog, unlike a bicycle, can easily be attached to a nearby tree or car, can't they be satisfied with that? Raise your hand if you have ever heard the pictured apparatus referred to as a dog rack.

Parking for a bicycle is limited by the size of its lock, and most cyclists use U-locks, which will only fit around a bike rack or sign post. I for one do not appreciate being left with no alternative but to approach a strange dog. You never know what animal might spontaneously decide to bite your leg off. You may think you know, but you don't. Even if it's your own dog, you don't know, so don't say that you do. Animals are animals, they are not people. As the saying goes, you can't teach morals to a gorilla. What about that so-called "tame" tiger that mauled the circus performer a couple of years ago, his trainer and source of food for at least ten years? See?

As you can see from the photo, I went ahead and parked my bike there anyway, thereby risking my personal safety. Give me one reason why I should have to undergo this kind of trauma just because I want to park my bicycle.

Scooters moving into our territory

Uh, excuse me, but is this allowed?

I'm all for scooters as an alternative to the car. HOWEVER: do they really need to take up room on the sidewalk as well as use up one of our scarce bike racks? Are thieves picking up scooters and carrying them off? Is that really a problem? Raise your hand if you have personally seen a team of gorillas back a truck up to a scooter in a well-trafficked area, lift it into the truck, and drive off.

Since a scooter, unlike a bicycle, has the right to occupy the parking spot of a car, can't they be satisfied with that?

If there's something here that I'm not getting, I'd appreciate educational comments. And I adore scooters, I really do. I'd own one myself if not for the fact that my excercise wouldn't happen.

And by the way, thanks everybody for your concern about Spiderhead and my hidey-hole. Now I can get back to the business at hand, which is what I need the hidey-hole for in the first place.