Like the title, this following writing is based on anything but a logical story line or spine. It is a collection of facts that all know and aphorisms that are axiomatic although we don't necessarily recognise how good they are. The most important feature is the pictures that all should have something to do with bikes. However, even there the story is inconsistent; there are at least three pics of female figures, yes with a bike, but the bike is not the "clincher" in the picture. Then there is an "ambulance" and a cat on a Vespa... a cat attracted to a potentially poisonous buzzing insect? Then there are the diet, winter and pollution issues, but no real beef there either. Perhaps would be better if you just held your nose and would move on to the next story. I'm warning you as this may stink worse than exhaust gas.
Bicycle riders don't produce muck "pollution" if their nutrition doesn't contain excessive amounts of cabbage and beans. Even then environmental consequences would be minimal. Definitely, the Global Warming phenomenon can be excluded. On the other hand, when expertly aimed, massive flatulence could provide a rider with extra boost; of course this is fairly theoretical. Now you know why this story stinks in places.
For some reason, I didn't find any aphorisms related to this issue...? On the other hand, it's a merit, as such, for the issue...???
The Arctic Sea remains now in winter 2012 widely unfrozen. Is it for the Global Warming or something else, only the future will show; the bikers are anyway innocent. Over the unfrozen sea, warmer air masses ascend and cause high pressure that is brought to Europe by eastern winds. This creates exceptionally cold conditions e.g. in the United Kingdom. It means that bike riders are actually another group of sufferers of this development whether they have cabbage in their diet or not. However, bikers are only in a side role in this game, the polar wildlife is the most imminent sufferer, and the mother Earth is the first contender in long run; whatever it means. Perhaps I'm referring to another of my writings where the underwater Olympic Games were shortly, but so elegantly, discussed.
"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race." - H.G. Wells.
People in Copenhagen, Denmark, have been forced to tolerate cold winter too; something that in the middle of this Global Warming talk sounds so weird. What makes it sound even more interesting is that this beautiful city most likely is being punished for the International Climate Conference that was held there in 2009 for establishing the Kyoto Climate Protocol worldwide. Regarding biking, Copenhagen is exceptional as up to 40% of the folks use a bike daily for going to work there. Biking has been encouraged by the government as the savings go in all directions. Thus, as a consequence, if the streets and cycle paths in 2012 get icy and slippery, a cold winter can paralyse the whole city and its infrastructure. Although, personal diet could hold the air underneath an eager biker's clothing warm, there would always be a chance to stumble and get injured. On the other hand, first aid for bruises would be easy to administer as ice would be available on the spot. Don't be stupid Esa...it doesn't help if you have a straight vision into your ear.
Whether it is winter or summer, bike parking is much more simple, but not as safe as parking a car. Against the wisdom of an old pun, the bikes in these pictures "can stand by their own although they are two-tired" (after riding to work). Taking a bike into an office would anyway be a good choice. In Copenhagen, about 20,000 bicycles are reported stolen every year, and thus only older models are being left outside in bike stands, I guess. Still, a professional thief has an embarrassment of riches in terms of bike selection. In winter, bike thefts are down as the fast fingers and cutting pliers of thieves are stiff.
"All bicycles weigh fifty pounds. A thirty-pound bicycle needs a twenty-pound lock. A forty-pound bicycle needs a ten-pound lock. A fifty-pound bicycle doesn't need a lock." - Author Unknown.
Leaving a bike outside a grocery store or a bar may be hazardous. The most honest criminals may be recognised right away, but the most of them do not clearly show their intentions by clothing as the girl on the right. There also is a chance that the girl has been sentenced to community service. Stealing a bike is not yet considered as severe as stealing a horse sometimes was, but let's just wait until Global Warming and the lack of oil really kick in. In Kuwait, Pirjo and I both lost bikes, and the same happened again here in Manchester, UK. Moreover, a bike of our friend's that we brought with us from Norway was stolen from the same stand in the garage where our bikes were. Am I too blue eyed? It can't be Pirjo's fault anyway as her eyes were brown the last time I had a chance to look at them. So, nowadays we walk or take a tram. My spinning bike is parked safely in front of a fridge. Over the nights, I have considered chaining it to the fridge door handle; we have a massive fridge that perhaps is a major customer of E.on. We got it in Kuwait that is known for an interesting approach to energy saving and some other environmental matters.
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without shocking the entire community. - Ann Strong.
In Copenhagen, one of the measures to decrease the number of bike thefts has been to provide so-called city-bikes for those who need provisional muscle powered transportation. For a 20 Danish Crown charge, you can take a City-bike from an official stand, over a hundred in number, return it to another City-bike stand and get your money back. Exactly the same system as when taking a shopping cart in a supermarket; put a coin into a slot and get the same coin back when you're done. Never happens at home. The bikes on the left look really vulnerable and abandoned, but the ones on the right look only happy and urban.
Regarding beer, the Danish are famous for their excellent products, and the locals know it from experience. If it already weren't risky as such, going home from a Pub, Ølbaren or Bryhus on a bike would become an even more dangerous feat if the streets were snow covered. A kick sled would be safer. Again, in comparison with cars, parking them both is easier as it is so simple to lash a sled or a bike to a dogs' lavatory post. Finding them after a night out is another question. Nevertheless, provisions for the prevention of vehicle theft have to be made whatever means of travelling is selected. In the case of e.g. a sled, contamination with urine should also be taken into consideration. Using City-bikes would solve most fragrance related issues. Also, according to unconfirmed sources, the saddles of City-bikes will soon come with an anti-odour cover; quite a number of Ølbaren in Copenhagen have cabbage in their menu.
"Things look different from the seat of a bike carrying a sleeping bag with a cold beer tucked inside". - Jim Malusa.
"Biking and beer do not go together, but have something in common: You have to know where you go, otherwise you may soon have a bump". - Isak.
in winter. The Montreal delivery persons' clothing is worth seeing; they have a culture and rules of their own.
Proper clothing is important for bikers in winter, but summers may be a bit different. Loose fitting top and sailor trousers may feel comfortable and give a feeling of freedom as all body parts move in horizontal and vertical directions with no restrains, however the looks isn't everything. Only dedicated style enthusiasts endanger the function of bike chains by wearing oversize trouser legs although warm air, rising from tarmac, keeps the legs supple. I just wonder if this lady has a colour-coded bike to all her garments. Notice that the rubbery handlebar tubes loosely match the colour of her roomy blouse. Nice. The only stylistic fault is her clogs that are yellow, and the tyres are black; partly this is compensated by the black soles of the footwear. Nice too.
In Copenhagen, except of the Police, also other pavement users utilize bikes for diverting traffic. The guys here are starting to play hopscotch, or something. The fellow on the right may have some other sort of entertainment on his mind. Another alternative is that he is proof-reading the graffiti. In autumn 2007, I spent a couple of days in Copenhagen and some localities surrounding it. Even in some small villages I saw this happening. Young people just sat still and stared at something I didn't see, perhaps they didn't either. I just wonder who had the best visions and who took them as imagination; I'm sure some took them as real. As the Netherlands, Copenhagen is well known for its liberal psychoactive drugs policy.
Towards the end of this writing, we seem to be shifting southwards. In Kuwait, ice-cream vendors move around the city on specially modified Popsicle® bikes. During daytime in summer, outside temperature is easily +50C. I suppose the insulation of the containers is pretty good unlike that of the poor vendors who first have to ride the thing to downtown: An effort that is about 8km and easily takes an hour. The green colour of the Popsicle is supposed to conceal contamination if you didn't know. I remember the time when quite alike bikes were used for selling hot sausages in ice-hockey matches. The function of the container was of course quite opposite, and providing hot sausages definitely didn't take place in Kuwait.
Finally, I can't resist sharing a picture that our daughter took a few years ago in Nigeria. These guys are paramedics of a local Health Centre in Mekanjira-region, and the vehicle is an ambulance. Either an occasional patient will have to make acquaintance with the paramedic's arriére, or then the paramedic is a good runner. This otherwise quite an ordinary bike has an engine for moving a patient more swiftly to a hospital. Because of this feature, bikes like this are called "motorbikes". The cat hasn't anything to do with either the ambulance or the paramedics; she has only found a warm place on the seat of a scooter. Scooters are a subclass of motorbikes, and the originally Italian brand name Vespa means a "wasp" in English. Some diehard motorbike enthusiasts call scooters "Hippies' hair dryer". The cat lives in the Muslim quarters of Beirut.
Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving. - Albert Einstein.
Then there should be a clever way to finish this talk... please, let me know if you have something!
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All excellent biking aphorisms in this writing, except my clever one, are still available at http://www.quotegarden.com/bicycling.html
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