scarf!
fur boots!
some pictures from summer '09. autumn has finally arrived here in SoCal. yayy, rain!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
goodbye summer!!! ^_^
white sunglasses!
scarf!
fur boots!
some pictures from summer '09. autumn has finally arrived here in SoCal. yayy, rain!
scarf!
fur boots!
some pictures from summer '09. autumn has finally arrived here in SoCal. yayy, rain!
Movies And Laws And Days In Court
I love people who stick up for what they believe in. It isn't always easy to stand up for what you think is right, especially when everything is stacked against you.
You may have seen these films on other sites, but if not, give them a look see. Both films, by Mike Rubbo of "And So To Bike", feature Sue Abbott. Sue is a woman who has never worn a bicycle helmet in her life and does not want to start now. This is problematic for her as she lives in Australia where helmets are required for all riders.
For myself, this is not a story about helmets. There is so much more to it than that. This is a story about a woman who does not want to be told how to live her life. She wants to make her own choices, and really, don't we all?
So now that you have seen these films, how do you feel about helmet laws? Note, I am not asking about helmets themselves. That is an endless discussion in frustration. Are people smart enough to make these decisions for themselves? Do you want helmet laws where you live? If you have a helmet law, do you want to keep it?
You may have seen these films on other sites, but if not, give them a look see. Both films, by Mike Rubbo of "And So To Bike", feature Sue Abbott. Sue is a woman who has never worn a bicycle helmet in her life and does not want to start now. This is problematic for her as she lives in Australia where helmets are required for all riders.
For myself, this is not a story about helmets. There is so much more to it than that. This is a story about a woman who does not want to be told how to live her life. She wants to make her own choices, and really, don't we all?
So now that you have seen these films, how do you feel about helmet laws? Note, I am not asking about helmets themselves. That is an endless discussion in frustration. Are people smart enough to make these decisions for themselves? Do you want helmet laws where you live? If you have a helmet law, do you want to keep it?
Monday, October 12, 2009
Check out our friends photos!
This is to our friend Eric, the wool jersey extraordinaire. Here he is, looking good as always:
Eric's photos:
• flickr set
• blog - 10speeds.blogspot.com
Also, how I first learned about this ride was via Lee, and he said a quick hello on the bridge, here are some of the links he shares with us (in the comments feed) of his and his friends thanks Lee! :)
• SF Randonneurs Populaire 10.3.9
And here is also a nice set by jimgskoop: 2009.10.03 - SFR 115k Populaire
- - -
Alrite, now that we have flooded you with riding pictures, it is your turn to send us [cylrab-at-gmail] or add to our flickr pool, your story and some pictures to go with them, okay! /xo♥m
• flickr set
• blog - 10speeds.blogspot.com
Also, how I first learned about this ride was via Lee, and he said a quick hello on the bridge, here are some of the links he shares with us (in the comments feed) of his and his friends thanks Lee! :)
• SF Randonneurs Populaire 10.3.9
- - -
Alrite, now that we have flooded you with riding pictures, it is your turn to send us [cylrab-at-gmail] or add to our flickr pool, your story and some pictures to go with them, okay! /xo♥m
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Family Life
So Monday has come upon us again and it is time to get the family out to school and work and soccer and violin lessons... this is what it looks like!
Time for a play date?
Home from school
Kids can ride for themselves.
The whole family can participate in getting around.
SRO commute.
Cross town traffic.
First day of school!
Japanese commute cuties!
Headwind stops for no Dad!
So go out there and get those kids to ballet on your bike! They will thank you for it!
Time for a play date?Home from schoolKids can ride for themselves.SRO commute.Cross town traffic.First day of school!Japanese commute cuties!Headwind stops for no Dad!Saturday, October 10, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thoughts Of The Day
Mikael has a really great essay in five parts on the "Fear Of Cycling" going on over at Copenhagenize. The subject of fear is one of my favorites (maybe I should go back to school and study sociology?) so this has been a good read for me. One of the subjects the writer, Dave Horton, tackles is the practice of marginalizing and scapegoating cyclists for being cyclists (within the context of bicycle riding in the UK)-
"Against the context of socially and ecologically destructive automobility, the reproduction of concerns about cyclists’ behaviour is a classic example of scapegoating (Cohen 2002). Scapegoating deflects attention away from greater crimes, by in this case sacrificing the cyclist in the ideological pursuit of ‘motoring-as-usual’. Through representing the marginal practice of cycling as ‘deviant’, the dominant practice of car driving is reproduced and reaffirmed as ‘normal’. Representations of cycling as deviant and cyclists as outsiders both contribute to, and are facilitated by, low levels of cycling which mean that few people are able to take, and defend, the cyclist's point of view."
This brings up two thoughts I have had lurking around my head, lately (I need to get them out before they collide like a couple of drunk fixie riders : D).
Thought #1- The rider as a "deviant". I understand that choosing to ride a bike for transportation is a radical choice in this day and age, especially in places like the sprawling suburbs that were built just for the motorist to get away from the city. When everything is against you riding, you have to be pretty strong willed to do it anyway.
How is this above scene threatening? What makes this man riding on a beautiful day with his absolutely gorgeous little boy in any way damaging to anyone else's sense of self? What makes this scene make so many drivers so nervous and aggressive?
What makes these riders so different as people that others feel they are undeserving of safe passage and respect?
How does getting from point A to point B become political, or economic, or threatening... anything other than just getting where we are going?
Thought #2- When people yell at us, call us names, throw things at us... it means we are making progress. I know it does not seem like it, but you have to be noticed in the first place to be insulted.
The other day, I was riding to pick up Declan from school. A guy, about to get into a car with his friends deliberately dropped a soda can on the ground. He looked around to see if anyone had noticed, so I called to him "Hey, you dropped something!" and kept riding. I knew I would hear from him once he and his friends drove by, but I wasn't too worried. Sure enough, as they passed me, he and his friend hung out the window and yelled "Wear a fucking helmet you fucking hippie!". I looked them right in the face and laughed! They had to find a way to insult me and they used the bicycle world equivalent of calling me a "poopoo head" to do it. "Wear a helmet" has become an insult, and as it is a pretty weak one, I can't help but think it is the last gasp of society seeing the cyclist as the "outsider".
I could write a bunch more, but I'd rather get out and ride! Ride on people!
"Against the context of socially and ecologically destructive automobility, the reproduction of concerns about cyclists’ behaviour is a classic example of scapegoating (Cohen 2002). Scapegoating deflects attention away from greater crimes, by in this case sacrificing the cyclist in the ideological pursuit of ‘motoring-as-usual’. Through representing the marginal practice of cycling as ‘deviant’, the dominant practice of car driving is reproduced and reaffirmed as ‘normal’. Representations of cycling as deviant and cyclists as outsiders both contribute to, and are facilitated by, low levels of cycling which mean that few people are able to take, and defend, the cyclist's point of view."
This brings up two thoughts I have had lurking around my head, lately (I need to get them out before they collide like a couple of drunk fixie riders : D).
Thought #1- The rider as a "deviant". I understand that choosing to ride a bike for transportation is a radical choice in this day and age, especially in places like the sprawling suburbs that were built just for the motorist to get away from the city. When everything is against you riding, you have to be pretty strong willed to do it anyway.
How is this above scene threatening? What makes this man riding on a beautiful day with his absolutely gorgeous little boy in any way damaging to anyone else's sense of self? What makes this scene make so many drivers so nervous and aggressive?
What makes these riders so different as people that others feel they are undeserving of safe passage and respect?
How does getting from point A to point B become political, or economic, or threatening... anything other than just getting where we are going?
Thought #2- When people yell at us, call us names, throw things at us... it means we are making progress. I know it does not seem like it, but you have to be noticed in the first place to be insulted.
The other day, I was riding to pick up Declan from school. A guy, about to get into a car with his friends deliberately dropped a soda can on the ground. He looked around to see if anyone had noticed, so I called to him "Hey, you dropped something!" and kept riding. I knew I would hear from him once he and his friends drove by, but I wasn't too worried. Sure enough, as they passed me, he and his friend hung out the window and yelled "Wear a fucking helmet you fucking hippie!". I looked them right in the face and laughed! They had to find a way to insult me and they used the bicycle world equivalent of calling me a "poopoo head" to do it. "Wear a helmet" has become an insult, and as it is a pretty weak one, I can't help but think it is the last gasp of society seeing the cyclist as the "outsider".
I could write a bunch more, but I'd rather get out and ride! Ride on people!
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