I've been a member of Etsy [as in lusting over stuff and buying lovely stuff] for 5 years. 5 years ago nearly to this date I made my first Etsy purchase. It was a pair of Sulu Design earrings [holla!]. And in all this time, I've never made a treasury list. Until now. BIKE STUFF! Because from where I'm standing, there are plenty of shirts and prints and cards and mugs with bikes on them on Etsy... but not nearly enough biking supplies. Seriously, I want some super crafty-makey person to rig up great bike lights. Or gear-hauling accessories. Or sweet bells. Or skirt guards. Just a thought. That being said, all these things above are wonderful. Some of them I don't think would withstand Boston potholes... but I'm sure someone has a commute flat and smooth enough that a crate held on with a bungie cord won't cause brain-numbing levels of rattles. Still, it's wonderful to look at these lovelies and dream.
Bikes Bikes Bikes
August 16, 2011
July 14, 2011
Brightly Lit
My rule for bike lights is to err on the side of the circus. In other words, deck yourself out. But be practical. Too much light can be distracting. Though it might be cool to look like a rave on wheels. One of the reasons I bought Toulouse was for her front and rear generator lights. Whenever the wheels are in motion, the lights are on- and pretty bright too. But about 3 days after I bought her, the back light went out. And despite repeat stops in at the bike shop [her parts are still under warrenty] the light is still out. And now, after some fender-work, the back light rattles. Time for a solution.
I took off the rear light that was afixed to the back of the rack and installed a small LED red blinkie. The only place I could get it to stick is on my lock mount. Close enough. Also, as my helmet also has a red back blinkie I am fully covered from behind. And please note the wire cable that once powered the light is still poking out the back of the fender and secured with a ziptie. ZIPTIES ARE A BIKER'S BEST FRIEND. Serioulsy.
My front headlight is rather big and bright, but it's down almost at the hub and I worry about my visability to cars. So I put on a white front blinkie. Like I said- err on the side of circus. When I see people riding about without lights I think they have a death wish. Yeah, let's go hang out in traffic without anyway of being seen. Let's rely on driver's alertness to keep us from dying. Great strategy. Lights are also cheap [10-30$ for decent ones] and really no one steals them, so you can strap 'em on and worry no more.
Blink blink blink! Here comes Connie & Toulouse!
July 10, 2011
Favorite Routine: The Farmer's Market
Going to the farmer's market is one of my favorite parts of the weekend. We're lucky to be about a mile away from ones on both Saturday and Sunday. We went to the Saturday one this weekend because today [Sunday] Damon & I planned our long exercises for the morning. [He: 2 mile ocean swim. Me: 13 mile run].
There aren't as many stalls at the Saturday one, but all our favorites were there. Like Grateful Farm. They have just the best selection of greens. Plus, the bonus about going to the Saturday one is that it's in the parking lot of an elementary school- so just locals go. Sunday's is in Harvard Square. And there are tourists swarming the place, not buying anything but picking up and touching/photographing everything.
Damon's favorite, of course. He is the bread-man.
Toulouse & I are loaded up and ready to go. We know we've bought enough veggies for the week when I can't fit anymore in my pannier. So what did we get this week? Salad greens [with flowers!] green beans, cucumbers for pickling and eating, kale & of course shortcakes. Lots of green things this week.
April 2012
Listening To
