Seattle Bike-In
If I rode a Harley-Davidson, I’d probably feel that same way about the annual rally in Sturgis as I did about then event that Mimi and I attended last evening, the Second Annual Northwest Film Forum Bike-In , an affair that brought together hundreds of cyclists to hang out, listen to music, cheer on bike polo players, watch bicycle-themed movies, and generally celebrate our love for humanity's most noble invention, the two-wheeler.
We brought along the Bike Blender, which—with the help of Alex from 2020 Cycle—we had mounted on a trainer and so were especially successful in blending up frozen drinks for youngsters and adults, the former fruit smoothies and limeades, the latter, essentially the same but with tequila and Triple Sec added. (The contraption seems to work a lot better on a stationary base then when you blend while riding; in part, because you can tweak the connection between wheel and blender more easily; in part, because being cheered on by people standing around waiting for their smoothies is powerful incentive to pedal fast and blend seriously).
I saw lots of people I know from various cycling worlds—bike shops, .83, alleycat races—and it felt good to be recognized by many fellow bike riders, too. I realize, of course, that mere familiarity does not equal deep and abiding connection, but still, having never really been a part of any “scene,” it gives me a warm feeling to be, at least peripherally, part of this cycling “scene,” if indeed it can be characterized as one.
The XO-1 looked beautiful as blender bike; I was reminded again how versatile it is: one day, showroom quality collector’s item; the next, utilitarian pedal-powered smoothie maker. Most of all, it’s a bike that deserves to be ridden; it spends far too much time pampered indoors; I liked that it had a chance to be out in the world, pulling a trailer, and getting wet and sticky from spilled limeade.
We brought along the Bike Blender, which—with the help of Alex from 2020 Cycle—we had mounted on a trainer and so were especially successful in blending up frozen drinks for youngsters and adults, the former fruit smoothies and limeades, the latter, essentially the same but with tequila and Triple Sec added. (The contraption seems to work a lot better on a stationary base then when you blend while riding; in part, because you can tweak the connection between wheel and blender more easily; in part, because being cheered on by people standing around waiting for their smoothies is powerful incentive to pedal fast and blend seriously).
I saw lots of people I know from various cycling worlds—bike shops, .83, alleycat races—and it felt good to be recognized by many fellow bike riders, too. I realize, of course, that mere familiarity does not equal deep and abiding connection, but still, having never really been a part of any “scene,” it gives me a warm feeling to be, at least peripherally, part of this cycling “scene,” if indeed it can be characterized as one.
The XO-1 looked beautiful as blender bike; I was reminded again how versatile it is: one day, showroom quality collector’s item; the next, utilitarian pedal-powered smoothie maker. Most of all, it’s a bike that deserves to be ridden; it spends far too much time pampered indoors; I liked that it had a chance to be out in the world, pulling a trailer, and getting wet and sticky from spilled limeade.
posted by Professor Dave at 9:57 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home