In case you’re a bike owner, the very first thing you test once you get up* is the climate. This morning I did simply that and noticed it was eight levels and partly cloudy:
*[The first thing you check that’s not a part of your body, anyway.]
In case you stay in a kind of commonist international locations that makes use of the metrical system this is able to point out effective biking situations certainly, however right here in West Greenland we measure temperature in American Freedom Levels™ the way in which God supposed, which implies it’s what meteorologists name “chilly as fuck”–although this specific rider would little doubt beg to vary:
[“I don’t ride when it’s above five degrees because I don’t want to risk heatstroke.”]
Moreover, we bought snow earlier this week, and whereas it’s no New Orleans there’s nonetheless a good quantity of it left:
By the way, when this newest little bit of snow arrived in fact we went sledding, and I formally deployed The Rivendell Of Snowboards:
Or is it the Fixie of Snowboards? I do know nothing about snowboarding or some other alpine sport so I don’t know which facile analogy is extra apt on this case.
Both approach, I acquired this factor “for the children” however in fact I hogged it the entire time, and I fell off of it repeatedly till I kind-of-sort-of bought the grasp of it. And lest you suppose there’s no place to correctly make the most of a snowboard round these elements, I’ll have you realize that the Bronx is the Switzerland of New York Metropolis, and in just like the Sixties Van Cortlandt Park even had an precise ski space with synthetic snow and a tow rope and all the pieces:
[Image via here.]
I don’t know precisely the place within the park the ski space was, however I believe it will need to have been within the spot the place we now go sledding–and if you wish to know the place that’s effectively I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t inform you.
Anyway, regardless of the chilly I did head out for a brief path experience on the All Bets Are Off Bike:
I briefly thought of bringing the Rivendell of Snowboards with me and sneaking in a couple of runs whereas I used to be at it, however I used to be nonetheless sore from all these falls earlier within the week, and I figured I in all probability shouldn’t tempt destiny. The experience turned out to be moderately nice, because the hikers had tamped down all of the snow, the bushes stored me protected from the wind, and the Jones was sure-footed as all the time. At the moment of the 12 months an hour within the woods is all you want, and I really feel lucky to stay right here within the Alps of New York Metropolis the place such a factor is feasible with out venturing quite a lot of minutes from residence.
In the meantime, within the Netherlands, researchers are working arduous to make biking safer:
Certain, “Dutch researcher” might sound like an oxymoron–like “three-speed singlespeed” or “Bronx snowboarding”–however whereas the Dutch might not have invented something since their eponymous oven**, they’re fairly helpful with bikes:
Wow, that’s the most naive and idealistic description of driver conduct I’ve ever heard:
Solely somebody from the Netherlands may presumably suppose that drivers are predictable:
Or that each one the expertise on this planet may presumably assist them “plan a route round” cyclists:
Yeah, proper:
Nonetheless, it’s higher than what we’ve provide you with:
Sure, there’s no drawback that may’t be solved with extra helmets:
“Small dent,” actually? Is that the metaphor you’re going with?
Luckily although there’s additionally an schooling element, although it principally consists of…telling individuals to put on helmets:
If security had been helmets, People would experience.
**In accordance with the Web, the Dutch have invented the next, although I’m calling BS on capitalism and the carrot:
