Doubling

(via Cycle Chic)

Doubling. I've been wanting to try this for ages.

Last night, I finally got to. Eden came by after work for some supper and some mutual drooling over my new mandolin (seriously - this thing is sexy), and she was without a bike because of some timing issues in the morning. Anyway, she decided to head home fairly late in the evening, and I suggested that I give her a ride home on my bike. We got a cushion from the couch to go on the pannier rack, and she rested her feet one on the frame and the other on the pannier strap like a stirrup.

Starting was..... difficult. Riding with fully double my normal body weight was a little disorienting for balance, to say the least. Took us a little ways to get started, with a lot of wobbling (and equal amount of laughing); thank God the back of my house is on an honest-to-God ALLEY. Then we had to go up a little hill to curve around down to cross Cook for Haultain - it felt like the back tire was flat. Fortunately, we didn't have to stop to cross Cook so we kept the momentum going, and once we were on Haultain it was just wonderful. I more or less was used to the balance, so we just rode along at a nice, leisurely pace, laughing and chatting. It's even eaiser to talk while doubling than when riding seperately, because your partner is always just right behind you. The wobbling and teetering about just adds hilarity and laughter too, once you get used to it (a little terrifying at first, but in reality no less safe than driving a car down the road). There was one moment where we had to stop to cross Bay, and we almost fell over trying to start with two cars behind us. Fortunately, it's Victoria: cars are already used to dealing with cyclists, and they were even more careful since they very rarely see TWO people on a bicycle that isn't built for two.

In a nutshell, it was the most fun I've had in a long time and I never want to give someone a ride in a car again. It was a pure delight to just ride and chat with someone right behind me, and it was just so FUN - we were laughing and yelling in mock (and not-so-mock)terror the whole time. As Eden said too, it's really a huge trust-building thing too. I think it took no small amount for her to ride on the back and trust me to keep the bike upright and moving forward.

And also, now I can truthfully tell my old roommate Jin that, actually, you CAN pick up chicks on a bicycle. Suck it, Jin. (Just kidding. We need to go to the pub sometime.)

"Hey Eden, what's better than driving a car?"
"Biking"
"And what's better than BIKING"
"...."
"BIKEPOOLING"
"YES"

Two-Wheel Tales

I swear this is not just to piss off Becca's dad :P

Anyway, because I don't think I can ever get tired of writing about bicycles and warm'n'fuzzy moments in life, I think I'm gonna start posting little story columns about extraordinary things that happen while I'm biking around Victoria (I say "extraordinary" 'cause, quite frankly, I love every second I'm biking around Victoria, so I'm only going to relate to y'all the out-of-the-ordinary happenings). Maybe convince some of you out-of-town hosers to come visit/live :P

Last night we had our regular band practice, which is always great for a number of reasons. One, I love playing with my band; two, we always have a cozy potluck dinner before practice; three, we've got a bassist now and it sounds awesome; and four, I almost always ride home with Eden. Normally the two of us cut through campus and head out Henderson to downtown, but last night we decided to go around Ring Road the wrong way on the sidewalk (such rebels). Anyway, just before we got to the exit off Ring, three other cyclists came down the other path and pulled out onto Ring just before we did, and as they did I thought to myself "heeeey, that red fixie in the back and that short girl in the front look familiar;" sure enough, it's our friends Casey and Amy and Andrew. We ride up and the five of us have a great, cheery ride most of the way back home before Eden and I take our seperate turn off; it was great 'cause I almost never see the three of them anymore - Casey's out of school and I only ever really saw Amy and Andrew in Chamber Singers (although really, Amy's in my theory class, so I really oughta keep up more often). In any case, it was great treat seeing them all again, especially on something so warm'n'fuzzy as a bike trip.

Yet another score for the bike coaltiion. As I said to Eden right after we said goodnight to the Three and went down Haultain, "see, you just can't do that in a car."


And this is where I find myself wishing that I did have some swell bike pictures a la Cycle Chic, but I don't, so here's a video about a cheeky campaign that's been going on in Malmo, Sweden.

No ridiculous car trips from Martin Lang on Vimeo.

Ride a bike - put the fun between your legs! (or, alternatively, less gas more ass.)

Sunday Post

It is days like today that I'm very happy I don't work mornings and am able to not worry about getting behind on homework, because I'm certainly taking full advantage of both. Still feel like ass, I can't breath through my nose at all and I'm sportin' a sore throat a bit as well. Ahwell. That's what tea is for. At least y'all get the Post in a punctual manner this week. Whoo!












See this lady? Basia Bulat is playing at Lucky on November 5th. I feel newfound joy at the fact that I am actually continually INCREASING the amount of money in my bank account.

Digital Post

So I somewhat unintentionally got a pretty lady's number after the Critical Mass tonight. She came out for the Otesha solidarity ride and it turns out we live a couple blocks away from each other. On the way home I suggested that she tag along to the Pub with Vanessa and I a little later; she said that sounded great, gave me her number and headed home to grab some food beforehand. However, we didn't manage to connect afterwards and she didn't end up coming to the Pub. Note to self: actually phone people.

(I remain convinced that I inhabit a bizarre network-sucking realm. It often seems like texts and emails never connect, or people are just really unpunctual with getting back to me)

I'm also pretty sure that said Lady is about seven or eight years older than I am, so I guess I may not be missing out on any life-changing relationship-building? Although, to be perfectly honest, as soon as I moved off campus and grew a beard I more or less stopped caring about age differences. Ahwell. The number remains in my phone and the pretty, bicycling face remains in my head. Onward, Life!

Sunday Post

DID NOT FORGET, just left for work early so I could be done early. Suck it up, y'all. Anyway, I may finally have a free day for once! I got my refined availability sheet handed in with a note saying that I caaaan work Fridays if necessary, but it'd be really swell if I could get them off; I currently have no days off - I have either school days or work days, and both are pretty long. I've so far managed to avoid a stress-related breakdown and I'd like to keep that statistic. Anyway, I've got this coming Friday off which makes me a happy camper.















On a downer note, on Friday I am taking part in the monthly Critical Mass. This is a downer because this week it is a - well, maybe "special" isn't the right word, but you know what I mean - special ride: it's a memorial ride for Andrew Wolf, one of the members of the Otesha Project. The Otesha Project is currently doing a bike tour around the East Coast, teaching about sustainability through theatre and performance - my good friend Lisi is on the trip as well. Two days ago, while riding along a highway between towns in New Brunswick, one of the groups of cyclists was hit by a semitruck; two people were injured, and Andrew was killed.

I don't feel that there is much anyone can say about this. Someone was doing what they believed to make the world brighter and they were senselessly killed while doing it. They were a friend of my friend, someone's son, other peoples' friend, and these people will never truly get over this. I don't think there's much else that can be said.

"We come from a hidden ocean, and we go to an unknown ocean."
"Antonio Machado

"A seascape: beyond the headland
A glimpse of immaculate sand that awaits our footprints"
-Michael Longley

From Copenhagenize

"3D Warnings For Streets"

Good read with some good ideas for road safety (no kidding eh), complete with a showcase from our very own British Columbia.

I'm a big fan of the last one, as well. I think it's got a pretty good point.

Of course, redesigning the roads permanently is the best option to improve traffic safety and encourage cycling and pedestrians. But yuck! That costs money!

Okay, here's another alternative from the Copenhagenize thinkthank. We have to be fair and include cyclists in such campaigns, of course. 3D texts with sensible messages for the different traffic users:

Digital Post

Hey y'all. DP's normally on Thursday, but I've got time to kill before work and a bunch of pictures taking up tab bar space in my browser.

Anyway, Life's still truckin' along like normal. School is just about into a proper schedule now, rehearsals and lessons and all. I got the choir scholarship too (whoooo two grand) so I'm pretty stoked, not the least because I now can't work Sunday morning and will be able to go out Saturday night (I usually work Saturday mornings so I'll have the afternoon/night off, and I don't have to be at the church on Sunday until 9:30 - plenty of time to sleep in). I also got some hiking books a full 50% off; they're normal $140, but they were on clearance for $75. Kickass. I finally got a tube backpack with the leftover money I had (I was expecting to be forking out at least $150 for the boots, so I didn't feel at all antsy about putting down $50 for the pack). So yeah, it's goin' good. I've got warm'n'waterproof for the winter and I'm lovin' my friends and roomies.

And then to top it all off, I got a slow-cooker at the Thrift Store today for five bucks. Awesome. Have a good rest of the week!

Bike Porn

'Nuff said.

Sunday Post

I do believe this is the earliest I've done a Sunday Post before. Ahwell, that's work scheduling for you. I'm doing 7-3:30 tomorrow; it's too early to want to do anything beforehand, but I won't be home until well after I'd like the Post to be up, sooooo y'all get it nice and punctual. Snap.

Quick snapshot into the life of Alex: went for a ride around Fairfield/Ross Bay for the first time in quite a while - I'd forgotten how beautiful it is down by the sea. I also made a big pot of soup this evening; apparently it's pretty good, seeing as Bronnie (one of two lovely ladies I now live with) dubbed me "Soup God". Flattery, sure, but still, it's pretty good soup. Again, work in the morning, then I'm off for a couple days because I've got schooooool. Classes are looking to be pretty interesting, and I got principal in orchestra again too, so I'm really excited about that (I'll keep y'all posted on concert dates in the future, 'cause if you can make it, definitely come out - tickets are only FIVE DOLLARS if you're a UVic student).

Anyway, back to music and reading for me before I hit the hay. Tonight is shaping up to be the most sleep I've gotten in at least a few days :D












Here's another Josh Rouse song for y'all; this one's called "Sweet Elaine".
There's a story behind this one today, too. One of the older women at work is named Elaine; I don't know why, but I've grown to like her quite a bit (and no, not like that - the woman's got grandkids, for pete's sake). We both just seem like similar quiet souls at work - almost everyone else just strikes me as a "rushing" person, in talk, manner, and personality; but when Elaine and I are both on break at the same time, we have some small talk and there just seems to be such a mutual, peaceful vibe between the two of us. Anyway, I find myself humming this at work a lot now. Hope you enjoy.

Digital Post

Holla y'all. Missed the DP last week - my bad. Ah well. Lots of gorgeous pictures this week (I especially love the grandmother and child looking out the window - great emotion from a drawing).

I'm back to school as of today, too. Three lectures in a row, one hour break, and then I'll have orchestra for two and a half, and then hoooopefully I will have to haul my ass to a church downtown for Thursday rehearsals so I can get a $2000 scholarship. Mondays and Thursdays from Hell, but I've got only two hours of lessons on Tuesdays, and Wednesday/Friday will just be work, and I may see if I can get Fridays listed off so I have one day that's actually a Free Day in the week. Ahwell. C'est la vie du musician.













I think most of my DP treats are going to be enormous photosets from coolvibe. Not that this is a bad thing.

"50 Stunning Futuristic Spaceship Designs"