According to new media the blogosphere is dead - too slow - full of amateurs with nothing important to say and saying it poorly - who am I to disagree. But I have been exploring recently, caught in the links sections of blogs drawing me ever on and ever on.
So I am going to start sharing a few which have now made it onto my feeds list or just catch my eye occasionally.
Its a great blog with often 3 or 4 postings a day often shared from or by other fixie blogs. Oh that's been a recent blog exploration trend - its all good old fixed wheel. The images in the posts are often really beautiful bikes and products or video from the 'community'. Well worth keeping eyes on this and then you see the links section or follow the links on postings which draws you down the interwebs.... to somewhere like..... 'I Parked in a Bike Lane'. How many times have I dreamt of being the cyclist's Judge Dredd smashing windows and letting down tyres of cars in bike lanes - but really even stickering a car is probably going to antagonize more drivers than remind them of their evil ways - still I am not going to stop anyone.
That is the link to my Bikely map showing the rough route for the North Branch Trail. Which is a great trail for anyone in the area.
So my second ride in Chicago is the biggest contrast yet to NYC. Ok so admittedly if you ride over the GWB bridge into NJ the countryside can be beautiful, but that took me 70 mins to get there . This took 10minutes. Then it's something like 13 miles each way on lovely smooth tarmac through treelined and swampy parkland - lovely.
Also worth noting I started this ride at 7am and barely saw anyone until I turned around. I reckon the later in the morning the more joggers, riders and families and it would be worth avoiding the path all together.
If anything makes me miss riding NYC other than friends it's watching a video like this - not that I can handle a bike as well as Alfred Bobe though - nooo waaayy!!
Inspired by a great photograph taken by an Addiscombe Cycling teammate back in the UK (blog here) I decided to try something a little looser and see what happens - there will be more like this to follow, probably trying to refine/find some form of technique as I work on them. If you are interested in purchasing this or commissioning something similar don't hesitate to get in touch.
I have a painting on display at the Independence branch of Chicago Public Library as part of the Chicago Artists Month 2008. 'NYVelocity' will be up on the wall until November 29th. I have made m y Chicago debut - tomorrow the world.
Finally a ride without the West Side Greenway, Prospect Park and NYC cops.
Ok so firstly I did not take a map with me, it was 7am when I left, I knew I was going to the lakefront path, heading North and at some point taking a different route home.
East on Irving Park Road just as the commuters get started is not too different to NYC and the edge of the road is still pretty chewed up. It also took 20 minutes to get to the lake which I hadn't really figured on, but I think it just felt longer because it was new and I had no reference points. The lake front path has been a fabled cycling route in my mind, I have walked sections before on visits but this was my first ride on any of its 18 glorious miles. Yep that's right NYC, 18miles from North to South of cycle path along the edge of Lake Michigan, passing through the heart of the city. I rode about 5 miles North to the end of the path and have to say I didn't see too many other riders I guess due to the time of day and any joggers out there kept to the edges of the path in single file, most actually ran on dirt paths off the edge of the path. Unlike the NYC jogger who seem to blatantly ignore path markings for bikes only (I know I apologise for painting you all with the same huge tarry brush). I was a little dissappointed to be riding out of ight of the lakes edge for much of that but it is a very pleasant ride. And this was the view at the end.Another apology - I rode this a few weeks ago and right now don't really have much to write as you may have noticed. Needles to say I wandered further North up Sheridan Road which from what I can gather is the club ride route out of the city until I saw signs for the North Branch trail, which I followed West. The trail I followed South wasn't the North Branch it was the North Shore trail but it ran through a great outdoor sculpture park for about 3 miles - here are some highlights. It's great to be able to ride on these clean, clear, safe routes so congratulations to the Chicago Bike Federation and all involved including Mayor Daley. From there back to Irving Park Road and home. Roughly 26 miles, but fine for a little spin and some sightseeing.
..though according to some online forums the mac repair just performed by Apple is a band-aid and the same issues will reappear within the next year and it will be cheaper for me to buy a new one than get it repaired again out of warranty - atleast I got it in to Apple in the last week of my 3 year Applecare.
Here a couple of Chicago images to pass the time whilst I prepare the images from my first few city rides. A wonderful Alex Katz painting on display at the Chicago Art Institute - 'Vincent and Tony' 1969. I love the way he captures personality and likenesses in a very simple style - just a great image. Walked past this place today with Molly slung across my chest. Bike themed cafe/bar - we'll have to go back sometime with postcards at hand.
