Crazed Driver Yells at Cyclist...who was a reporter with videocamera

Check this story with video from Paul Bass at the New Haven Independent.

A crazy-ass driver starts yelling at him telling him to, "Get on the fucking sidewalk!!" She continues yelling, angry about being filmed and demands, "Don't camera me, that's fucking rude!" The video begins with her telling him she's pregnant. I feel sorry for that kid!

There have been several incidents with cars and bicycles in New Haven lately and many people are very angry. Give his great story a read and check the links.

Two mornings ago I had a driver behind me beeping and yelling up a storm because i was in the left lane taking a left. The sad/funny thing about it is not only was i going the same speed as the morning rushhour traffic, but the light we were approaching was red! She must have a lot of stress and hate in her life to act that way. Sucka! I had a great commute into work that morning regardless of her tantrum. Read more!

Check yer Head!! Missing yer Helmet??

Rich has been in possession of this headpiece for atleast a few weeks, bringing it to various rides, bars, bat mitzvahs, weddings and ice cream shops searching for the owner.

give us an email or comment if its yours! Read more!

The Economist Talks Bicycles and Cars

There is local and national evidence of more bicyclists and bicycling lately.

Anecdotally, the three bicycle racks where I work have been full most days this summer, and the greasy old perennial bicycle commuters at the DEP seem impressed with the number of commuting riders this year. I bet there are plenty of other workplaces where the old dogs have noticed an increase in commuters.

We also have circumstantial citywide evidence of more bicycling lately. The inaugural Discover Hartford Bicycle Tour was a smashing success last fall, and there has been a push to get more bicycle racks on city buses.

Word of similar events and trends are wafting out of other cities across the country, but it's good every once in a while to get corroboration from a mainstream source like The Economist. Not surprisingly, this is a concise high-level summary of the current surge in bicycling as transportation in the US. The crux of the article is a few anecdotes about motorist-bicyclist altercations and a relay of statements from bicycling advocates saying "cycling deaths are sharply up" to assert that automobile vs. bicycle conflicts are a problem. Their solution? Better manners from drivers and cyclists.

Is the recent increase in incidents of bad manners and cycling deaths proportional to the recent increase in bicycling, or are motorists and bicyclists getting angrier?

As I've said before, bicyclists must accept the responsibility that comes with power reclamation on the roads. At the same time, I wonder how big this problem actually is, and is it really a problem of manners? I think The Economist falls short of their usual level of insight by offering a solution of minding manners. Better manners could improve a lot of problems, not just bicycle-automobile conflict. This is a political and economic problem with political and economic solutions, no different from other topics tackled by one of my favorite publications. Read more!

Cap'n Richie's Fun Page!

Here is the beginning of my post.

Awwww....yeah.

Hey Kids! Do you like puzzles?? I do! Here's a teaser for today. Rich has a ticket to go see Radiohead next Wednesday in Massachussetts and he's excited to go because nothing makes good music better than a dash of social responsibility. As you may or may not know, Radiohead has made it a point to make their touring habits green, and they're pretty keen on passing on that message to their fans. They made it a point to do things like send a recording to Conan O'Brian rather than use up resources traveling to NYC. They play in music-dense festivals so fans aren't driving all over the place all willy-nilly searching for good music. They have their truckers plug into the grid for power at night rather than idling engines. And they want fans to use public transportation to their concerts. Apparently the show at Tweeter/Comcast/corporate sponsor Center in Mansfield, MA...if google results are to be believed , is quite contrary to that last bit. The closest thing is the commuter rail that runs between Boston and Providence, but that's several miles away. Hey Kids...can you name a mode of transportation that can easily bridge that gap?


I found out this summer after a DMB show yet another rush that bikes can give...blowing past not only all the traffic waiting F O R E V E R to exit the lot, but also the slow, drunken Bataan-like death march of people walking back downtown from the Meado...I mean Dodge Music Center. If the traffic patterns for the venue at Mansfield are as bad as I hear they are, what a perfect opportunity to juke back to the commuter rail station in Mansfield and hop aboard to get me outta there.

Now here's where the fine readers of the BBB come in. What's the best way for me to see this concert? Here are the facts we know: 1) I'm taking the whole friggin' day off. 2) The lot opens weirdly early like 2:30 pm. 3) MTA allows bikes on their commuter line except for the rush periods. 4) We already know Amtrak can go fuck themselves with their expensive tickets and their no bike policy.

Right now, I'm thinking my best course of action is to drive all the way to Providence and park at the rail station, load up my bike, and there are later trains running south after the show. If anyone can come up with a better solution that doesn't end in me dying or getting fired, I would love to hear it. Read more!

Carribean Nights, Mighty Sparrows and Beach (Goldfish) Parties

El Prez and I pedaled downtown Saturday night to the Carribean Festival to eat dinner and check out some music. We unexpectedly passed Krash as he was leaving an ATM with a lovely purse. Priceless! Krash and Wizzzzy had biked down for Coldplay and were about to cross the street and enter the Civic Center for the concert. El Prez and I continued on to Constitution Plaza and locked up our bikes behind the food vendors and seeked out food, delicious West Indian food.


The roti, chicken and pumpkin curry was good, but the Mighty Sparrow was great! Dang! This dude was getting down in his matching purple shorts and shirt and what looked to be black dress socks and shoes! He had been paying much attention to a pair of ladies sitting infront when one of them jumped up and whined on him something wonderful. woo-haa! Lady had some skills!


T’was a great night for music under the stars and mad people came out to enjoy the evening. We met up with Bianca and her friend and decided to check out Sue’s Soire over at Hartford 21. It was a beach themed party. I was wearing a guaberra and el prez had a bottle of rum and a recycled beach ball. We were all prepeared…or so we thought!


El Pres del Lincoln! The party was pretty bangin'.These people were partying! Live band, yummy food and a swimsuit dance that left many in bathing suits dancing and prancing about the room. Krash, Wizzzzy and two friends came by after the concert and joined in the dancing, pool and pinball machines.


Before the jump and in reckless abandonment of keeping tings chronological, I gave Bianca a ride to her car in the North End on my bike post party. I can still hear her saying, "Don't kill me!" as we turned onto Main Street balancing as best we could.


And that’s most of the story…but then there’s the goldfish!





Rum, goldfish and cameras! a winning combination, especially when catching fish in your mouth becomes the most important challenge in life! I outlined the flying goldfish with bluefish because some are hard to see. Some were caught, some got away!


Too low of a throw for wizzzzyy!


I'm gonna say i ate that little fishy!


Good job Krash!


Bianca's got it!





Read more!

A ride gone... better.

Considering that the Scruffy Peloton has effectively been on hiatus for the past several weeks I took my day off Monday as the opportunity for a long solo ride in which I would re-attempt the route into Barkhamsted that several weeks ago went so horribly awry. While the ride went much more according to plan I could, of course, count on Google to throw me several curves to keep me on my directional toeclips. Along the way I saw one of my all-time favorite volleyball courts...

and got to ride some of the meanest hills Ive found in CT thusfar.

Check it out, Click "READ MORE" for the pretty pictures...

So I headed over Simsbury Mountain following the same route I mentioned in my previous post, turned North onto Route 10, and West onto Stratton Brook Rd. Moving much faster and more confidently than before I quickly came upon the intersection that had thrown my last attempt into its spiraling decline.



It was at this intersection, technically the junction of Stratton Brook and Route 309, but known to Simsbarians as the joining of Stratton Brook, Westledge Rd, Old Farms Road, and Farms Village Road, not confusing for an out-of-towner, that so much went wrong last time. Better prepared with BOTH route and road names I nonchalantly turned onto Westledge and made my way past meadows, farms, and farm stands. I caught this sign out of the corner of my eye and my adoration of hops obliged me to snap a picture.


There were, to my dismay, no hops in said brook.

There was, however, clean cold water which was quite refreshing on this, a very hot day. This willow and its shade also seemed to be calling out for a hammock and a good book.


The picturesque scenery continued as I rode down Westledge, which subsequently turned into North Canton Rd. and then West Simsbury Rd. At the end of the latter, however I passed a sign which made me laugh and shake my head...

Apparently once you leave Simsbury and get into Canton the use of route signage once again becomes acceptable.

I turned North onto 179, passed this gorgeous horse farm...

... and headed up a mean hill, 2.0 miles long with a max grade of 9.0%. As me and my burning legs crested the hill I came across some road art that perfectly mirrored my sentiment.


Cresting the hill I enjoyed the fruits of my efforts and cruised down the backside of the hill and turned onto 219 (where I again came across a sign that would have been helpful on my first attempt).


This section of the ride turned out to be the most scenic and for a moment of two I thought I had ridden all the way up to NH or VT. If anyone is feeling up for it take a ride out this way and check it out, you wont regret it as you can see.






Riding further I even came across a very nice iron bridge!


Thusfar my ride had gone largely without a hitch, however this was where I turned onto the Farmington River "Turnpike". I started out down a side road which I (foolishly) remarked as being one of the nicest "turnpikes" I had ever seen. I twisted and turned along the road through the woods until the pavement abruptly ended!


The next couple miles were spent managing bumps and avoiding rocks along the gravel access road. On the plus side this little detour offered me a great view of the river and I got to move along in the shade.


When I reached Route 44 I turned North as planned but coming across the road I had intended on taking noticed that it looked to offer little more infrastructure than my last path! I decided to turn around and head back into Canton via 44. I crossed the river over the gorge and caught glimpse of a fly fisherman and several tubers enjoying the river...


I hopped off Rt 44 and cut over on Rt 202 and rode down Powder Hill road again crossing a scenic small iron bridge over the river.


From here I headed back through Collinsville, back over the mountain via the now seemingly smaller hill over Mountain Spring Rd and back down Route 4, pleasantly pleased that I had completed my intended ride without getting dreadfully lost and all less than an hour's ride from the city.

Read more!

On music, and feeling old

[Take note: This post has almost nothing to do with bikes.]

As is mentioned in the post below, the music at the alleycat afterparty was wicked loud. Your humble correspondent, who once considered himself a rather serious enthusiast of the loud music (and has still been known to crank up the Buju Banton when driving), was driven from the back yard to the front, to quietly nurse my beer alone. How did this make me feel? Old.

Then, yesterday, to add insult to injury, this: I was at a coffee shop in Middletown doing some work (that is the life of the itinerant public interest lawyer - laptops and coffeeshops) and there were some snotty teenagers there being loud and snotty, and doing some really awful, no-good, very bad beatboxing. Then, apropos of nothing, one of them announced that Biz Markie "has no flow whatsoever," which hit me kind of the way it hits people in their sixties to hear the young bucks saying curse words all the time - it's not that the oldsters are prudes, it's just that you don't say that stuff! It is just not done! Also, seriously, Biz Markie's flow is not bad, his lyrics are hilarious (um, hello? "Pickin' Boogers" is brilliant), and he is a fucking pioneer, do you hear me? A pioneer! Don't listen to "Just a Friend" a few times and then try to talk to me about who has flow, with your lackluster beatbox that sounds like anemic cats drinking soy milk while halfheartedly clawing bubble wrap! Have you heard "Make the Music with your Mouth, Biz"? Biz Markie makes sounds in that joint that your two-bit, coffee-drinking ass can't even think about.

Hearing that kid dis the Diabolical made me feel really really old.

Then this morning, to really seal the deal, I heard on the radio that today is Chuck D.'s birthday. He is 48! Damn.

Anyway, happy Chuck D.'s birthday, everyone. Here's a present:



I need to go ride my bike a whole lot so I feel less old. Read more!

Bring Your Rubbers alleycat roundup

Holy Shit that 1st band was loud! The hood was scared!

The alleycat popped off very well indeed. The police only came twice and the fire department once...not too shabby. We had three super loud bands and a super unloud stereo for the afterparty as well as a keg and other libations. Many thanks to Krash, El Presidente de China, all the bands (Fruit Punch, Dirty South Revolution and Own Life), the peeps who held down the checkpoints and all the racers. And the sponsors! Manhattan Portage, for the 1st prize messenger bag, Play in Traffic Productions, for the Monster Track DVDs, 5-Boro Generals, for the t-shirts, and CCBA for the stainless steel, non-carcinogenic water bottles and Brendan for the whiskey.


TJ proudly wearing his medal of fastness. He shoulda paid attention and worn some rubbers as he found himself thigh deep in the flooded Connecticut River carrying his bike to the bonus checkpoint. That’s core dude!


manifests and maps

Here’s the list full of misspellings:
1 TJ (dreads)
2 Shanesaw
3 Valdez
4 Sean
5 Aaron
6 Jeremy
7 Tony C
8 Mourad
9 TJ (no dreads)
10 Steve
11 Rich's eyeglass case
12 Robin
11, 12 or 12,11. Who knows!?!?
Opton missed a checkpoint and got a flat, but won a 40 for the breakdown
Rick and AmyZ never left my checkpoint!
Two others?…Orion and Matt didn’t finish? Got swept away? Traded to the Mets?

the checkpoints:
pope park pond, keney park pond, elizabeth park pond, lincoln's horse EH riverfront, park river @ asylum and woodland, constitution plaza fountain, chillwill's backyard, and prove you went to wendy's on airport road. bonus spot: hock river ped bridge in EH


The band, the crowd, the keg, a MP lanyard...i dunno, its freakin dark!

there's prolly another dozen photos after the jump.
click on "read more" fool!


pay up!


robin and jeremy enjoying the park


lauren and that dude whose name i got wrong at the park...help!?


15 minutes til "GO!"


Tony C, an army of one.


where's that sculpture of Lincoln's Horse!?!


that's right suckas, you gotta climb two sets of sketchy fire escape stairs to get yer shit signed.


jeremy and aaron navigating the Stairs of Death


this dude was flying down Cap Ave


steve trying not to eat metal steps


once they pulled out the buds...there was no leaving!


dirty south revolutionaries


steve, bianca, ozzy and more manhattan portage schwag


own life


tony makin' all the right moves


krash, chris, and that dude from the dirty dirty. he was mad cool.


i am not sure i improved much from the 40 i had the night before


ken demands the 'stache is back


bicycles, bicycles, bicycles, bicycles, bicycles, bicycles


el prez lookin' el serious


eva chulita and meeeyoo! i don't sleep anymore cuz of these chicas, but its all good. (be nice when you tell me how to spell yo name)


watching the van back out and in and out and in to get out was funny. i have a cargo van and feel thier pain in that parking lot.


wow! the pope park checkpoint and friends. eva, wizzzzzzy, laura, meeeyooo and leslie who also won the pullup competition!



rich is proud of his DFL prize, an acryllic block with a CT quarter that says, "you belong in connecticut."



el prez on his Xootr just seconds before bailing on going to the diner at 3am






Read more!