Dog park

I don't like dog parks. Many people know this. There was once a consideration to do this in Elizabeth Park. I became very angry. Dogs are good (not as good as cats, but still good). Dog parks are bad.

Anyway, I have signed up for a 'cross race (one to which I can ride my bike) tomorrow in Rocky Hill that benefits the eventual construction of a dog park in Rocky Hill. My hope is that my entry fee goes entirely to paying the officials, etc., but I bet some of it is going to go to this thing.

Ugh!

I don't have any pictures of Elm Ridge Park, so the picture is Quarry Park.

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Woof woof

You may have noticed that it was nice today. So, when the whistle blew at work today, my Colnago and I headed down towards the Wethersfield meadows. Things were pretty typical, though I noticed that they "regraded" the roads. They don't use gravel, or smooth the dirt, it appears that they used chewed-up asphalt to resurface. It doesn't seem like a good idea, because the stuff is super-rough and the runoff from it can't be good for the River.



Anyway, I was riding along and up ahead of me was a Maxima with a large black lab next to it. I'm pretty sure at some point on this blog that I've complained about people who go to the Meadows and drive their dogs. It pisses me off, but there's nothing new about it. The weather gets nice and people drive around with their dogs next to there cars, sometimes the dogs are even leashed. I slowed a bit as I approached. The dog had run off the road ahead to the right, but just as I got close to the car, the dog ran in front of me and I hit the dog. Not hard at all, I braked to try and not hit the dog, but I hit the dog none the less and the dog didn't even seem to care. I'm not very good at imparting rage extemporaneously, so I said yelled at the driver something like, "Watch where you put your fucking dog!" and I don't think that really makes any sense. He stared at me totally baffled, perhaps because I yelled something that made no sense, or because he hates bikes or maybe because he realized he's a terrible dog owner.

But, what the fuck? I've got nothing against dogs, but this moron seems to, because if I was driving a car or riding faster or riding a motorcycle, I would have injured or killed the dog. When did we become so lazy that we need cars to walk a dog? It's disgusting! It's bad enough when people walk dogs unleashed in public spaces and they chase after you or try to bit you, etc. However, violating the sin of sloth must count double if you drive your dog instead of walking it.

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a little Key Wierdness to warm your day

Handcuffs for bike locks are as common as rusty fenders here in Key West; but this awesomely strange combination of handlebar and bar ends is certainly not. I wondered who the rider was as I passed this bicycle going into the Bottle Cap Lounge as well as when I left. Perhaps the owner was sitting next to me? Perhaps they are seven or eight feet tall? Or enjoy riding standing up with good posture? I dunno, but bless them for making me smile!


Many people here simply do not have cars and use bicycles for everything; commuting to work, grocery shopping and towing their jet-skis! This dude prolly ain't getting into the large chainring anytime soon.


A fixie with a basket isn't too weird, but jumping sharks!?!? Really!?! Luckily we didn't have to dodge any this night during our pier tour. I bet a bite from one would mos def leave a bruise.


But...if a jumping shark had attacked us, I would have whipped out my sword and used my pirate skills to battle to the death! I have also found it to be very effective when drunk tourists stumble into the street in front of me while riding. A loudly yelled "ARRRRRRR" and a sword over my head usually sends them running back to a sidewalk of laughing bystanders. (yeah, go ahead and call me trash for not yet taking down my Christmas lights!)



We've all seen the Hartford messengers stacking their fixies on parking meters and poles in front of Mad Dawgs, Vegas and other spots. Well, down here in Key Weird, we hang our cruisers in trees when going out for swanky dinners. There's actually a second cruiser in the back of the tree and both are locked up in the branches.

a few more after the jump...




This installation, part of Sculpture Key West can be found at Fort Zack until April. Have a seat here in the shade if the sun and beach gets too hot for you.



Considering I took this during the Holiday Lights Bicycle Tour, it isn't really weird. There were also a few other bicycles with dogs, actually a lot, but only one trike with a dog and so many lights. Well done!


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Do office chairs belong in bicycle racks?

Sometimes you don’t want to walk to the bar. Obviously (i hope) driving isn’t an option. I suppose for some reason you may choose not to ride. And, every once in a while, i am sure we all will ask a friend to push us to the bar in an office chair. It happens. Where should the chair be left? This and other hardhitting deep issues of Key West bicycle culture are being discussed and debated. Well, maybe not, but they sure make funny photos. I'm going to continue to post random postcards from this crazy little tropical island as well from roadtrips on the BBB every now and then, but mostly I will be writing and photographing for my new blog, Key West Velo.


Expect more of my same blurry photos and long winded stories but without any snow or ice...ever. Although, I must admit, the cooler weather down here lately has been great for riding. Mid 50's at night are chilly if you're sitting around, but feels great if speeding around on a bike. And we got lots of bicycles here of every type and rustitude. Here's a typical sight outside El Alamo when Scott, Dave and I are cruising around. There's thousands and thousands of bikes everywhere, I love it. Its truly the best way to get around.


Here's an unusual sight inside on Christmas night...IT SNOWED!!! Even though it was plasticky and not cold, people went nuts! BTW, this spot has $1 PBR's and $2 Yuenglings all day every day! mmmmm!

I will also be contributing to the Fixed Gears Bicycle Shop Blog and writing and photographing all the assorted road, time trial, cruiser, choppers and various crazy looking bikes that come through the shop. Its my new fulltime job; managing, organizing, learning and having a great time at Fixed Gears Bicycle Shop. The links between the two are hard to find, so here they both are. That was an awkward paragraph, my bad! But life is good, i encourage everyone to follow their hearts and manifest their dreams.

Fight the winter blues and live vicariously someplace warm through the blog, or plan a trip and come on down and visit! Hope to see y'all down here smiling and pedaling.

Ride on,

chillwill
Key West Velo

click read more for a naughty elf picture





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Critical Turkey Mass. Hartford, Nov 2009.

The motley crew as an uptight rent-a-cop was trying to kick us out of Constitution Plaza!

Well, thanks to the cold and the earlier rain, we went old school; you remember those rides of yonder with 5 or 6 maybe 7 people. no so much a mass. not so critical. but still a good time, although this was a freakin' cold one! brrr.... We had a total of 5 people, one dog, one mini-boom box attempting to keep us warm with tropical tunes and an empty spot on a tandem. Big up to everyone who came.

We had a brief encounter with the holiday lights up on Constitution Plaza before heading across the river and along the East Hartford Riverfront. The beavers have been extraordinarily busy between the boat ramp and the Charter Oak Bridge. They are taking down some big river trees. It's crazy and worthy of its own post and photos from a daytime visit.


Scruffy very much enjoyed his special seating on the top tube.


Riding under giant horses is always fun.

Thank you MaryLynn for the photos. my camera kinda died this night. Read more!