Bike Coaster

New Belgium Beer

One my way back from a great trip to Colorado we stopped into the Cowboy bar and had a pint and a glass of milk. Sure! Kids are allowed. Nothing like having a cold one before getting on an over crowded plane. Please keep you seat belts fastened. We are clear for take off.

White Iron Band

fiddling doozy

The Cabooze leveled their back bar so now they have room to dance!

Went to see the White Iron Band and they tore it up. People's were moshing and romping and generally having a good time. Ready for the next show!!!

" leave the car, the best exercise by far "

ba dah bah bahhhh bahhh...

I was shocked to see this printed media on the side of my McD's bag. I honestly do not eat at McD's as regularly as say the guy from Super Size Me. Is this what this campaign means anyways? Eat a Big Mac and do it by bike. I am stoked that they are indirectly saying that biking is the best exercise by far. Biking is a good exercise. I like. I bike. Hey that rhymes.

Is BK now coming out with their version of getting fit on the Whopper? I would not be too suprised. So please get on your bike and ride to your local fast food burger joint so that you can work off those fast calories with your family. And when your done tell yourself you love it. You love that you rode to get some fast food. You love yourself because you rode that bike with training wheels. You love it because your bike is an extension of yourself and when you get hungry from riding so much you need to go grab a burger meal and comfort yourself as you stuff your face. Yes. I rode here. I deserve this. And I am loving it.

Frozen in Norther MN

_Team Kabetogama














3 groups of gentle human souls. carried themselves out to embrace these frozen days on a lake way the, way up, North. Don't yah know? We all carried our rations of food and good spirits. The purple heart goes to Matt's son. A brave soul indeed at 3.

The best part about this trip was the Empire tent and the frozen mass of lake that increased in ice thickness a cool couple of inches the two, icy and star studded nights we stayed here. Frozen is a temporary state. Can't wait to kayak here in the summer!

Linus in full Hockey Gear

Linus

Linus has got to have one of the loudest, most accurate slap-shot's any of those Peanuts can pass around. Having to carry your blanket around with you all day is great practice. How do you think he got so good with his stick?

I had a Linus toy when I was younger. My cousin Brian gave it to me. It was rubber and the shirt was painted on. He took a few dings during my childhood with him. He always stood on my dresser.

When my cousin Brian started his family he asked me at a family party. "Do you still have that Linus?" "Yes, I do." "Can I have it for my son?" "NO"

I gave it to him but very reluctantly. It wasn't like he was a kid and really liked the toy which is probably why I ended up with it in the first place. I really liked my Linus doll. Guess it never really was my Linus. I was just borrowing Linus for the 20 years I had him.

Consecutive Sunday Dumpings

Bird Pond update

Sort of looks like this now. A bit has melted.

Crunch.

No can hear. got snow in my tires

Biking in the snow takes certain courage. You lack the glide so your working harder to move. And I think the whole balancing takes a bit more out of you. Watch for ice. No turning!

Ultimately riding now is like a chorus to your ears. Crunch. Pop. Crack.

Winter riding GEAR:

gloves, ear muffs, helmet, windbreak, breatheable layers, snacks, thick socks, water and air.

XCEL _ Toronto kicks some Wild @rze

taken during the Only Wild Goal the entire night (2-1)

Thank You MLK

now biking

I felt humbled that all was covered with white and my bike tracked beautiful lines. The sun shone through crystalline remnants of a fresh 7" dumping.

And my two-wheels were equal in what they accomplished in moving me along the flat streets of my neighborhood in this powdery drift.

Biking is true freedom. We have it to share it. I promise to inspire biking in others.

Acoustic Showcase

Matt Pudas and Friends! at the NOMAD on cedar

My bird pond on New Years Day

_new years eve song!

It rained then snowed. The snow sure did show.

I went out on my bike and tried my new snow tires. First time and only time.

That snow is gone now. Everything is brown. But Sunday! This Sunday. It will snow.

I am not a meterologist but I just have a real gut feeling.

Please. Give us our Winter back!

chorus: Let it snow, let is snow. I want to ride with my snow tires.
*send your new years eve lyrics and I will post them!!!

See & Be Seen in 2007

"LIGHT THE BIKE. SEE THE BIKE" Portland, Oregon.

I walked by this sign while another bike rider was putting his bike on the bus. This is an ad campaign for this public awareness campaign on getting bike riders to use lights on their bikes. They kicked off the educational festivities with an awareness parade(a night ride) for riders. Riders without lights quickly improvised lights; taping flashlights to their bikes.


This message is simple.

All you stealth night riders who see but are not seen.
All you invisible riders who blink-but-don't-look-out for other motorists!
All you "Lost my light. It got stolen" riders.


Get a light on your bike! (so we can see you)

Suggestions:

The new LED lights are the best option. They run on little batteries, packable and sometimes even rechargeable. Back red light and headlight for a minimum.



****These hyperlinks can be linked from this page:Trimet Portland, See and Be Seen Campaign, MetroTransit Twin Cities, LED project

Oregon & Happy New Years

This is Willie the puppy
Van Reflections!
Spent the Holidays in Oregon. I snapped one of my reflection on the tinted van widows. The lens is my mouth in this photo. The sky here is gorgeous; this photo does it no justice.

So now you see how most of my photos posted here in this blog all start.

Happy New Year
Please visit all my links!
2007 will be a great year .

Ginger Bread Boi

__________Dooooooh!

Worlds biggest Ginger Bread house as the MOA.

The elfs were life like and busy in mechanical silence. I could just smell candy. The shingles on this 3 story home are impresive; baked ginger bread wafers with a curved edge. The snow around the dormers did not fool me. I had my down jacket in my hands.

Stencils are Islands

__Ferry: La Pointe - Bayfield, Wisconson

Connected Islands

Madeleine Island is connected by a Ferry. In the winter it is often connected by ice. Cars are allowed to cross the miles that seperate it from the mainland. I have seen photos of this. I would be a bit scared crossing in my car. I would like to see it frozen over. I guess this last year it did not freeze entirely

USE HAND RAIL

A good stencil design will hold each letter to the page without the need to drop in parts.

A great example is cutting the letter "O" for a stencil where the inside oval must stay connected to the page. No one likes hunting for the floating piece to hand place upon painting. A good stencil connects the center circle of the "O" to the page which makes it appear, from a distance, like it floats alone at the center.

A good island understands that it could be the loneliest place on earth and be OK ; I know many islanders that might prefer that. Only islands can have certain things others cannot; like lemurs and Do0do0 birds. Like that stencil with the floating parts that you have to hand place the inside to paint. They often get lost.

A few islands where I would like to get lost:
1. Galapagos
2. Azores
3. Hawaii
4. Fiji
5. Iceland

Sushi Pyramid

_ turkey dog sushi rolls on Madeleine Islands

Had an incredible Thanksgiving with some new friends. Slept with the stars every night. Attempted to swim in Superior but without gloves or a hood proved impossibly cold. The Turkey Dan fired in his new BBQ was super good. The trick is to have a drip pan and add new charcoal slowly.

We shared stories, food and putting logs on the fire. A wood fired sauna filled the day after Thanksgiving with sweat-equity. The stars broke early and the moon was a crescent in the sky. We were in bed by 9 and up by 6. Early to bed. Early to rise. Probably how the Pilgrims and Indians did it in their time.

Total F(bomb)-ing Blood

Tearing it up at the Chooglin CD release Party 7-street Entry Nov. 17th

I enjoyed the tunes. Full sound. Lots of sound. Loads of full sound. Did not have my ear plugs. I was reminded the next ear-ringing day. Missed the opening act but caught the next two, bass and drum, bands. I'm trying my best not to name drop.

I like Chooglin. They are so tight. Almost too tight. Then the horns of Eleganza, who accompany the band, include: Bass trombone, trombone and trumpet. Aaah. So nice. Not just a bunch of hot air. Punk shouldn't be perfect or over the top. The icing here was just too perfect.

Envelope

__****____*******
. . . .________USA

Ride On!

_Homey fixing his wheel in Mendota Heights

I was riding down the last major hill and into the caged skyways that border the Southern edge of I-494.

I see this biker carrying his bike. A see another bicyclist ride by him. I keep going and look back through the chain link fence d bike path. He is looking at me pumping his flat tire in the air. I pull up ahead and meet him on the trail. I think his name was Flea. If it wasn't he sure looked like him. He says, " Isn't riding great!"

Yeah. Riding is great. His phone rings and he answers explaining that he's got things under control.

"Oh man, I don't want to make you late. I don't want to get you fired."

This is the best excuse I have all year for being late.

3 Favorite MODES--Ride the change.

_____choose_____0-0__your___(_)__favorite___O-0-O-0___mode_____

Possessed by the weather and how it dictates our mode of transportation?

Walking is always a part of it. Where eva we go we got to walk. Unless you are bound by a chair and then you roll all day. Or if you just happen to own a Segway. I wear roll-on man!

Tonight's full moon delivered the light I needed for a nite ride . I have plans like most weeks; spend the most time possible on my bike-- Bike mode, bike mind.

Winter requires a bit more riding gear: booties, rain gear, tights, long underware, socks, fenders, warm gloves, ear protection, coveralls. Today was the warm autumn blues. I looked at the weather and see 3 solid day of dry riding and then some slop.

Bike mind keeps me on my gear needs.

Ride, walk and try to drive as much as I need.
Try to remember how nice it is to ride my bike.
Ride to the change I want to see.

Only try this at HOME!

Halloween and the Pumpkin patch

All Saints day passes. We put ourselves at pace with the curing of autumn. When steps turn frozen. And all takes a taste of these crisp cool morings. Our day light savings makes us saving our mornings for a time to be with light because by the time we get home it is gone. And we light ourselves.

Steve Poltz @ the NOMAD

_no more chasing waterFALLS

Nother great show from Steve Poltz at the Nomad in Minneapolis. I enjoyed his new song "Street Fighter Face." It should be on his new album out in a few months. If all goes well maybe he will tour again. First stop -- Abu Ghraib.

I guess his last tour he did not sing any Rug Burn songs but last night he did. The Childs Story played from his iPod was a hit. I was actually frightened by his gestures. The story was about a boy with a hook as a hand and how he learns to use scissors with it and then saves all these kids stuck in a dungeon by this creepy dude who sewed all the kids to the wall. Something like that anyways. OOoh. The sound he made for the sewing machine. Eerie.

And the song he wrote with Jewel --You Were Meant for Me -- that he extended and told the David Cassidy --- Las Vegas -- Write me a Hit Poltz !! Story. I laughed. The place was in tears. My friend turns to me, " I don't think he is ever bored." I agreed. Thanks Steve. You always keep it real!

Agua Potable

___ USA II Mexico Border issues

Remember when this was the only packaged water you would see. Culligan man would deliver the jugs of water for your dispensor. Now they sell water in vending machines. Fountains are old fashioned. Or how about the 9 oz guzzlers in 24 packs; wrapped in clear plastic in a cardboard box. Designer water right? It may say "Spring Water" when actually the water is carbon filtered, UV treated all before it goes through a reverse osmosis. This water has a degree! It tastes like water. Clean, potable water.

What the point in taking all the minerals and organic materials out of the water? I like the well water I pumped this last weekend on Cedar lake. The water had a orange tinge to it and tasted of heavy minerals like iron. This is water too! It may not taste like real store water but then again it just came straight from the ground. You could call it naked water.

Water without a name or package.


When you were born did your parents already have a name for you?

After all you are more than 75% water.

Packing the PUNCH - 2

_ Sticker on pLAstic 55 gallON trash CAN

10 quick reasons why riding your bike on a Sunny Autumn day RULES!!!

10. Cool wind in the hair

9. Riding through dry leafs

8. Greeting people racking colorful leafs

7. Startling squirels along the way

6. Stopping and talking to people bagging leafs in orange plastic bags with pumpkin prints

5. Sounds of leafs falling and flying

4. Crushed leaf colors on the road

3. No sweat

2. Muscles are cool

1. Full circle back and relax

MYTH

___video control center

Calling all Suburban hipsters!! Out in Maplewood ( Suburb north of St. Paul) is a super sleek club that is 18 + up. Called "MYTH." You can see in from the 694 - White Bear lake Exit. They open real late and card you even if you are bald. I gave the man my ID. I watched him handle the sheep ahead of me in line. With a marker in his hand he gave me back my id and then proceeded to write a large black letter "C" on my right hand. I could smell it. Thinking in that little robot voice in my head, "t h a t i s n e v e r c o m i n g o f f ." I really wanted the Star of David. His evil twin followed close behind putting wrist bands on those with the letter C. I asked him what the permanent blackmarker letter "C" on my hand was for. "So you can Drink?" He replied. My response, "Oh. I See. You can drink. How did YOU know?" Inside the club are sleek lines, open spaces, and everything is very dimly lit with a massive dance floor. Two aluminum boxes held 2 dancers and the dj table lay between them. Needless to say we danced till the wee hours and had a blast.

Not "ickeys" it's "Mickeys!"

Dj Saeed is in the house visiting from LA. Stopped for some late night eats. Not bad actually. The bread for my burger was perfectly toasted. The coffee poured frequently warming my cup. A group of Goth's entered and sat behind us. The Wild (MN Hockey) were up on a small color TV.

CALEXICO - FINE LINE

LITTLE JACK HORNER

Madeline Islands

_my foot & foot print on the sandy beaches of Superior!

It was a rainy weekend on the Island Oasis. This place is still gorgeous with or without the rain. I like the wave sounds. The storms make better wave sounds; they are bolder and carry more vibrato. The rain too has patterns of hushed coolness; like a brush on a high hat. The Basswood cabin with a wood stove, friends with board games and what you have is a hooting good time. The cabin saved the day.

Thanks Molly, Renee, Hillary, Aaron and Lee for making the place all that more special. Sharing meals, Trivial Pursuits and a championship Twister matches makes for a good time. That Polish was really good for my cough too!

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Bubbles

Jenna u fill space eligantly

BUBBLES
Opening ReceptionSeptember 15th – 6 to 10PM
Join us to celebrate the opening of this responsive inflatable environment.
Music and sax with John Juster (housegrown/ respect music)
This event takes place during the kick-off of Art Crawl. Bicycles will be available at M&A on loan (with picture id) so that you can pedal around Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Los Feliz to see what's on at the other galleries.
This interactive installation is a spatially adaptable pneumatic environment at an urban scale. The installation consists of large air-bags or "bubbles" that inflate and deflate in reaction to the visitors coming to the site.
For more information and to see the installation near completion, visit: ibubbles.blogspot.com or www.emanate.org.
Bubbles was created by Foxlin (Michael Fox and Juintow Lin) and NONDesigns (Miao Miao and Scott Franklin) and Brand Name Label (Gabriel Renz), with Axel kilian and Darius Miller.
Many thanks to our sponsors : the Annenberg Foundation, the Pasadena Art Alliance, Fountainhead, Dazian Fabrics, M&K Metal Company, and Furniture Technologies Inc

Punch Prints

_chalk stencil print CHALK STOMPERZ by Crayola (thanks LISA)

The rain came and soaked things a bit today.
Made for a very misty day here in the Twin Cities
Had a chance to print some new chalk stencils with these chalk pads from Crayola.
This print is actually on the bottom of a canoe illuminated by a bike light.

I like the chalk. It smells less than a spray can. The stencil takes much less of a beating with chalk so essentially you get much more out of your stencil. These print are temporary; the rain and wind erase these prints. A sporty step of a sole and you can add a gaussian effect to your print.


_____wet power poles seemed to produce the best prints for my stencils.

My stencils are printed card stocks(like old flyers) that I cover with clear tape for added strength. I then sketch a design and cut.

Cycle of Right

_photo from an Intermedia Art show in Minneapolis

I figured something out. Maybe I have before but tonight made it right again.
Riding tonight on a bike. The moon. The moon was so huge. So round and white minus the golden haze in the air. Warm and dry. And everyone is leaving their classrooms. Tonight was comfort.

Rolling on through and I figured that I may and will be back here again; on yet another night just like tonight. With the full moon rising and rolling on through on a bike with friends. I would hope more might stop to know. There will be more.

Nights like tonight. I got the cycle right. Had just the right amount and enough to know.
Nights like tonight make it all right.

Coming out PUNCHING

Art of this - THE WAR SHOW: INVASION

LOOK

**CLICK TV TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS SHOW

5 Shirts for $11

G-oa- T

I had threatened a wet Afton Alps earlier in the week
While I spray painted these Tee's Thursday night in my garage; the rain came down hard
The water could not stop "Los Chivos"
To find that our whole Team rode old GT's

Viva Los Chivos
Viva Los Zeros
Viva los Heros
At least we placed

Los Chivos Anchor Man

24 Afton - Save Twhales

Beautiful time on Afton Mt. with team Party Dots and Team Los Chivos.

All the proceeds from this ride go to MORC. Thank you everyone who supported the riders.

I think their T-shirt says it the best, "Shut-Up and Ride."

The Arboretum of University of Minnesota

Arboretum UMN

If you are dying to know the scientific names of your garden herbs I suggest you take a visit to Chaska. Easy to get to and close by coolness measures. Head down the 494 west out of the cities and take the 5. Right past the 41 you will see the sign a mile up on the right. Plus ++++
Lot's of them. Thursdays are free!! Well as free as it is to get your car there; not that biking there is an impossiblity.

Thursdays cost nothing otherwise it's $7 a person. Highlights include the Japanese Garden, the Eye pod - NO plugs or batteries required. The Bog walk is fun. Follow the wood chip trail around the lake and look for the wood pathway. Did not see the SWAMP THING but knew he was out there. (Or is he a SHE?)

Walker Sky Frame

*Artist James Turrell

Not sure the name but I do know that this will be the coolest place to hang out once the new Sculpture Garden is complete behind the Walker. This will only be after the Old Guthrie is long gone to some sort of wasteside, carpeted in grass and laid to permanent rest with epitaphs of new sculptures.

Careful as you enter here. YOU SEE THIS SKY AT A PRICE. YOU ARE BEING MONITORED.
Please enter with grace and leave with some framed sense of space.

Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen
I'm Your Man

Leonard tells his tale as others play his his music at a festival in Australia. Rufus plays Piano and sings "Alleluia." It's a shocking look at the life of a poet. Trials, families, divorce, Zen, and stories of Krishna all while talking of touring again as the drink goes on.

This is his final act with U2 backing him up on a darkly lit red velvet stage.

Here they Go!!

Two Wheel View is leaving on another bicycle adventure next week with six students to Catalonia Spain/France... thanks in part to your fundraising efforts and support of Two Wheel View.

A total of 6 students ages 14 -19 years old will take this journey through Spain. It is exciting to be part of this Cycling Adventure. I love that youth will understand now how great it is to pack light, get on your bike and ride with the pace of life.

You have much to look forward to: cookie breaks in the mountains of Toulouse to the Beaches of Perpignin, Spain. (click here for Mapquest note- zoom out one step till you see the Mediterranean)

CAR FREE- A journey of leaving the car Behind

Our world has a great love for the automobile. It is afterall, an invention of human hands and burning mind.
But as we take our time away from this 4 wheeled transport machine by choosing other means of personal transportation to get around; namely those means that require increasing our heartrate- Bipedal Locomotion. And for awhile you were a "Loco-in-motion" if seen walking. We forget our not so distant past. Our forging ahead across the savanna like our ancestors in the African Savanna millions of years ago.

This requires a certain focus away from the usual trodden paths of oil slicks and pandemoneous road-rage. OH. At this time you join this young journey and slowly become transformed into a different sort of man. Tromping on this mother earth with your ever lighter path. It takes real heart to get hear. Even more to focus on life without your car.


Awake the heart. It 's what keeps you going really isn't it?

Bike Stencil