two eyes, two wheels, two legs, two cogs

so i found this new site in spanish dedicated to fixed gear bikes: simplifica (simplify). from Spain. good translations, explanations and resources. i'll try to convince them to start using "piñon directo" instead of "piñon fijo" for fixed gear. who knows, it might work. but more important, cyclocitiZenship international is growing. here is the italian take on the subject, and more, the italian artistic take on the subject. more to come, i hope.

Here's a little secret....

House rules prohibit the parking of bicycles in the living room.
But, as the saying goes, when the cat's away, it's a regular rat day.
So of course, the first thing I did when the tomcat got in a taxi bound for LAX was wheel my other sweetheart into the living room. Later, I walked in and the light was so gorgeous coming through the wheels I just about fell over with joy.
Please don't tell....

Earlier that day I went on a Bikesummer ride to a community garden and parked my pony in the chicken coop. My bike is 36 years old and I'm pretty sure this is the closest it's been to chickens. I think it was pretty happy there... I was hoping I might come back to find an egg in my helmet, but no luck.

P.S.

Two things:

1. It's an openhouse, meaning "Gentlemen Welcome."

2. The rad flyer was designed by Miss Kim

bitchen_openhouse_flyer_web

bitchen_openhouse_flyer_web, originally uploaded by fireweed43.

We will have guest speakers Harmony Groves and Bicycle Bill Burton from the Arcata Bike Library. It's an openhouse in honor of Bikesummer AND an after hours Birthday Bash for Emily! YAAAYYY!

Holy Bicycle

Teach the SECRET TO LIFE and SUPERNATURAL IMMORTALITY as manifested in the GUIDING LIGHT of TRANSVELOSTANTIATION.

Help those still BLIND to the DIVINITY of BICYCLE. DELIVER the LOST SOUL who lives in DARKNESS without BICYCLE. BRING FORTH this most RELUCTANT RIDER to Pioneer Chicken at 9.30PM Friday June 10. Echo Park Blvd. @ Sunset.

Wear WHITE GARB ONLY in REVERENCE to our MOST HOLY BICYCLE.

No RIDAZZ left behind.
STAY TO THE RIGHT.

UFO powered by VBC. To come at MIDNIGHT.


(genius from the midnight ridazz mailing list)

Ruckus Revue

Ruckus Revue, originally uploaded by fireweed43.

Hope to see you there!

Benefit for the Bicycle Kitchen

Carl and Vladimir cooked this up for the Kitchen with this month's early rendition of the Old Time Ruckus Revue.

Hope to see you there!

LA BikeSummer 2005 : Who Knew What to Expect?

BikeSummer, more of an invitation than an event, is an opportunity for the hosting city to show off its bicycle culture. One week before the kick-off event and the people whom make up LA's bike culture have come through in extraordinary ways. BikeSummer comes at a crucial time for LA. While previous hosting cities have had an established bicycle infrastructure, LA's is still forming. Those of us who have worked together on the lead up projects had previously not known each other well; in a way BikeSummer has already been successful in coalescing our various subcultures. Recently I've been to almost half a dozen other cities, armed with newsletters and stickers, talking to other cyclists about LA and cycling. The response has been better than expected and I'm fortunate to be a part of such an amazing movement (cause it is whether we call it that or not!). LA's potential as a bike city is huge: wide, (mostly) flat roads, fantastic weather, and a plethora of resources for cyclists. The events for the month of June are as various as the city itself! From rides on the beach and in the nearby mountains, to art tours/shows and music events, and even scavenger hunts and centuries. Can't wait to be off the computer and on the streets with so many amazing people! My sincere thanks to everyone who has helped to make BikeSummer happen; you know who you are. Peace.

LA BikeSummer 2005 )

tornpants

tornpants, originally uploaded by fireweed43.

Perils of Fixie Ridin'

Luckily, I was riding on the left side of the street, kind of ambling along as I didn't have far to go between one point and a cup of coffee. When all of sudden, I felt this tug on my right leg and my foot and calf made this wierd circle pull down that was quite unnatural and painful. I hopped off in the middle of an intersection!!!, but luckily there were no fast cars and it took a quick pull to release the chain and chainrings' toothfull grip on my jeans. Apparently, I did not have my pants rolled up high enough. Thanks be to whoever I wasn't bombing down some hill.

Rudy's Barbershop & Baseman Show...

Small world I tell ya. I was getting my mullet chopped off at Rudy's Barbershop and over heard the stylist in the next chair talking about the Ridazz Prom ride. Fun meeting fellow Ridazz and Kitchen people around the city.

I rode over to check out the Baseman opening nite at the Billy Shire Gallery in Culver City. Saw three other bikes locked up next to mine. Anyone of you? Good show.

beer

beer, originally uploaded by fireweed43.

Kitchen folk love beer. 92 times

Auf Wierdersehn!

philips, originally uploaded by fireweed43.

crappy spelling. blue light.

greengreen

greengreen, originally uploaded by fireweed43.

The time for a pullover and click of the digital shutter.

Bicycle Sight

rooster, originally uploaded by fireweed43.

A simple glimpse to why I love to ride: A rooster and double green.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

I love this quote by Chris Kostman

“Cycling opens the world, while providing the most efficient means of transportation ever devised for humans. Whether training, racing, or commuting, cycling teaches blending with the landscape like no other mechanized activity. Momentum, aerodynamics, geography, climate, and
more, they all open up their secrets at cycling-speed. And at the same time, the bicycle puts the rider in touch with the human environment,
generating waves, smiles, and hi’s from passers-by and fellow road users, not to mention teaching one how to predict, negotiate, and avoid those less friendly to those on two wheels. But most of all, cycling is the ultimate, grin-a-minute, great equalizer, ready to embrace any and all in a wind-in-your-hair, two-wheeled adventure.”
LA BikeSummer 2005

You got to coordinate

This bike was in front of the Goodwill Store. It reminded of that line from the movie Boomerang, "Son, you got to coooordinate"

Bike Whore...

Rode past this on the side walk in front of La Luz De Jesus.
- nhat

kitchen utensils

i've always been fascinated by objects that have an active life. i like how they wear. i like how they make community. and you might say, objects do not make community. but you know, they belong. they are trace. i'd dare to say that communities and beings are woven out of live things and inanimate things. anyway... after a nice spring ride with L. i droped by the kitchen today with her camera in the bag. i was thinking about a couple of pics for the biciblog but then i got carried away... by the weave you might say. el jimmy was there running the thing with his virtual octupus skill, hands on everything, fluid, no brakes you know. sometimes i think he's like some informational node, linking all, radio on greasy hands. then philipp droped by, he's leaving to germany in two weeks but he rides the rush with his soothing smile. we talked as i took pictures with my usual feline gesture.














now, this is the altar of the wheel, bendita sea la rueda:



and today i had the privilege of seeing the amazing spoke screwing machine:



and i just love the handlebar tree. here is where the brakelevers get to hold the handlebars. role inversion at its best:


is there a patent for this?



the archive:







if you want more pics, bigger sizes, or if you are into flickr click here.