Bicycle Diaries

Over the handlebars

but landed on my feet

I love my Surly Steamroller. It’s a true fixie, pedals always in motion and therefore it only needs a front brake. Most people don’t understand why there isn’t a back brake. I can’t easily explain it but it has to do with the force…

relics

friends and taxis

A college friend was in town hanging out a little too far for a 9pm bike ride. It had been…

Brooklyn Heights beloved

 Old folks still have a big voice about cycling.

The bicycle music box patented in 1899

Has anyone built this yet? Who wants to help?

lessons learned

from traffic court

Well i plead not guilty and had my day in court last week. I lost because I implicated myself with the statement “ I may have jumped the gun.” Up until that point I was doing pretty well. The officer noted that I stopped completely at the…

Reflecting on an open door opportunity

I was itching for a ride so I went out after dinner. Over the Manhattan bridge, up to 23rd street and back, with one, unintended, stop in Alphabet city. A taxi was parked partially in the bike lane, but there was just enough room so I kept going. Then the…

Bike Ambassador

European tourists are biking around Brooklyn this summer more than I’ve seen before. With that, I think it’s important to be a help them find their way. Whether it’s directing them to the correct side of the Manhattan Bridge or encouraging them to avoid Downtown Brooklyn and take the scenic route…

The friction of life. One of technologies biggest achievements is reducing friction between humans. No longer do we need speak to a bank teller, call for a taxi, or even protest (though less effective). However, I’m beginning to question whether this frictionless society is better for us.