The Great Bike Corral '07

Extra bike or two in the garage? Old, neglected frames gathering dust, crying out for fresh air and open roads?

Round 'em up and dust 'em off for the THE GREAT BIKE CORRAL ‘07 at REI Manhattan Beach.

WHEN: Saturday May 19th – Sunday May 20th 10:00AM-5:00PM
WHERE: 1800 Rosecrans Ave (On the corner of Rosecrans & Aviation)
WHY: Your chance to alleviate your bike guilt and donate your vehicle to a great cause, The Bicycle Kitchen and their "earn a bike" program.

*Donate Your Salvageable Used Bikes and receive a $20 REI gift certificate, a 15% off coupon, and a tax write off.

Don’t miss the hamburgers, hotdogs, and live entertainment!

I dunno about y'all, but I'm def. there for the hotdogs. Those are organic veggie dogs, right?

Load haulin' mama

My mom, a weekend warrior, rides her Xtracycle once a week to the Sunday farmers market, loading up w/ organic goods for the week. I've written about her before, love her weekly routine.....

This week, she was interviewed coming into the city's bike valet area, and her quote ended up closing this article on the program,

"Mary Ann Cummins, 70, has equipped her bicycle with side bags large enough to hold her artichokes, greens, broccoli and fresh Gaviota strawberries. "My God, I forgot my eggs," she said, and hastily returned her bike to an attendant."

That sounds exactly right. The part about the eggs that is.

Article made me sad for Johnnie, whose personal bike/pet watcher service has taken a hit due to the program.....I think next time I'll leave my Xtra w/ him.

Xtracycle diaries

Just noticed that the Xtra crew have a new blog, the xtracycle diaries.

These lads are changing the world with two wheels, a sense of humor, and lots of love......

.....fueled by veggie burritos and good tunes.

I've been carless for a few weeks, lent my Volvo to a friend, and have little impetus to fetch it. The test is always my weekly cooking class: toting a load of farmers market veggies, pasta for 40, vegan chocolate cake w/ frosting, knives, bowls, and cutting boards galore - a seemingly impossible task sans car.

Yet doable and an adventure, always, with my trusty pedal powered uber-machine.