Edward Joseph Gorecki

A ghost bike was installed yesterday for Edward Joseph Gorecki, 51, who was hit and killed by a car last December.

The bicycle is at the intersection of Quincy and Broadway - go check it out and pay your respects.

The Dentist took some photos of the slow ride in Ed's honor.

Fuji Locked to a Pole

I took this series of photographs a while back after seeing a nice looking Fuji bike locked to a pole alongside a Minneapolis bike trail. It's worth a revisit, I reckon...

This guy got away with the front wheel just as I was coming up on the locked blue bicycle.

sometimes I get excited when I ride my bike

have a nice weekend. play safe. and if you see my friend Scott, don't be a rubbernecker, he's just trying to live his life.

Details on Tonight's Silent Auction

Regarding tonight's silent auction, for the purpose of raising money to build a memorial for Rachel Dow.

CHIANG MAI THAI
Thursday, March 27^th, 2008

6:30pm-8:30pm

This Sting-Ray could be yours:


One of a kind, handmade jewelry

cycling apparel, beer, etc...
lots of wine, 0.75, 1.5, and 3.0L bottles - some as sets of 6 or 12.
Original artwork, even one from Amy C.
Grab bags - 20 bucks each. What's inside? Wine, plus other goodies.
Awesome t-shirts and other clothing...
a nice sampling of gift certificates from venues across the Twin Cities.

Ghost Bike Minneapolis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

03/25/2008

GHOST BIKE MINNEAPOLIS TO INSTALL MEMORIAL FOR ED GORECKI

Ghost Bike Minneapolis will host a short memorial ride on March 30th, 2008 in remembrance of Ed Gorecki, a cyclist killed by a hit-and-run driver on December 11th, 2007. A white bicycle will be placed in Northeast Minneapolis at the intersection of Quincy and Broadway as a memorial and a reminder to ride and drive safely.

The Ghost Bike Project is a nationwide effort to increase awareness of the dangers bicyclists face, and to encourage cyclists and drivers to share the road. More information can be found at http://www.ghostbikempls.org/.

The memorial ride will begin at 1:30 on March 30th, at the east end of the Stone Arch Bridge (MAP). Attendees are encouraged to arrive 30 minutes early. There will be a short ride to the intersection of Quincy and Broadway, followed by the installation of a ghost bike and a moment of silence. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

CONTACT
Chris Farmer-Lies
(952) 484-5487
ghostbikempls@gmail.com
http://ghostbikempls.org/

==========

thanks to Sveden for this important news.

Silent Auction for Rachel Dow

Mark your calendars.... ANNOUNCING UPCOMING EVENTS AT

CHIANG MAI THAI

Please Join us for a

Silent Auction

to Benefit the Memorial Fund for

Rachel Dow

Thursday, March 27^th, 2008

6:30pm-8:30pm

Located in Chiang Mai Thai’s Event Room

We recently lost our close friend and long time co-worker, Rachel Dow. A memorial fund has been set up in her name, and we plan to use all proceeds to place and dedicate a bench on the West River Parkway overlooking the Mississippi River. Any additional funds will benefit a local at-risk youth program.

This silent auction is a public event. We will have items of all kinds and cost up for bid, including:

*Spectacular selection of all varietals of wine

(from 750ml to double magnums)

*Burton Snowboard BMC-68

*Complete Birdhouse skateboard from professional skater Steve Nesser

*Swobo and Navara biking clothing

*Various pieces of artwork, framed paintings, photography

*Eclectic handmade jewelry

*Kate Spade sunglasses and $200 Gift Certificate to Look and See EyeCare

*Autographed Willie Nelson LP

*2 large MAC make-up/product packages

*Packages to various local gyms

(including Core Power Yoga, MN Kali Group, Los Campeones)

*Private Tennis Lesson at RSFTC Tennis Center

*Tree Trimming/Consulting service

*Lawn/Landscaping service

*Contracting/Handyman service

*Shiatsu Massage

*Hair cut and color service

*Season tickets to Jungle Theatre

*Bicycle Tune-up at One-On-One and The Alt bike shops

*Gift Certificate to Neiman Marcus

*Restaurant Gift Certificates to 2021, Restaurant Alma, Stella’s Fish Café, Lone Tree, Uptown Pizza Luce, Café Barbette, Pi, Spoon River

*$20 ‘Mystery Bags’ - Each bag filled with wine, various products, and a chance to win big gift certificates.

*Much more!

We also invite you to enter our 50/50 Raffle. $10/ticket. We will name the winner the night of the auction. 50% of the money collected will go to the name on the ticket, the other 50% will go directly toward the Rachel Dow Memorial Fund.

Please join us for this very special event! DJ and dancing to follow from 10pm to Midnight. We hope to see you there.

Map to Chiang Mai Thai

Payment via cash and checks only. Must be present at close of auction to claim your item. If you are interested in donating an item, please call 612-827-1606 and ask to speak with a manager. Thank you!

short shorts and a t-shirt

Remember what it's like to bike without hats, gloves, extra socks, etc? I was riding around late last night actually thinking to myself that I wouldn't mind it if just stayed in the mid-30's (F) all the time. The nice thing about the cooler temperatures is I don't have to worry about a constantly sweaty back from my backpack, I'm not in constant need of hydration like when it's warmer out, I can ride across lakes instead of around them, and the mid-30's is the perfect temperature where I don't have to wear many clothes while cycling. Well, there's also the added feature of fewer recumbents, but let's leave that for someone else's blog.

Don't get me wrong, I welcome the warmer weather, it's just that I'll be missing these riding conditions as soon as they've past behind us.

Easter?

That's why all the grocery stores are closed today?! I'm hungry and have no food in my fridge nor coffee in the cupboard. Even the gas station down the street is closed - I can't even settle for a crappy donut and crappier coffee? Come on, doesn't Jesus get hungry? At least I was smart enough to hit the liquor store yesterday - so I've got that going for me, which is nice. Don't worry, I found a heathen-owned coffee shop - nobody tell the Pope or President.

In other news - you might want to keep a close eye on your wives and daughters.

Also, I like the look of these Filson hiking knickers - somebody should send me a pair, I'm somewhere in the 30-32" waist category, depending on make - At least tell me a good place to get some.

Stay tuned - I've got a few products I've been using and would like to review for you.

one more before the weekend

I've been interested in pushing the idea of car-pooling and other forms of transit for many years - since 1994 while living in Honolulu and seeing how bad traffic congestion affects people's daily lives. Well, I recently contacted Melissa from 494 Commuter Services and today had a meeting with her and a few 'higher-ups' from the human resources group at my workplace. The car-pooling option to me is a no-brainer, as the free service is already in existence, it's just people don't know about it - just type in your info and they match you up with others that have similar commutes based on your locations and times - did I mention it's free? I'm pushing to get a few reserved parking spots near the entrance for car-pooling only vehicles - that's a big incentive to the average person where I work.

I am personally pushing my company to install a set of 6 bike lockers, the same ones you see at MetroTransit park-and-rides, also to get a subsidized MetroPass, as well as a bus shelter to keep the waiting riders dry from the rain and out of the winter wind. The MetroPass option is fairly easy - the minimum monthly subscription is 5 people, and there are currently 3 people who ride the bus where I work (out of ~1,300), so getting 2 more people shouldn't be a problem. The bike locker issue is probably going to happen, with the help of a bit of subsidizing, while the bus shelter is likely a no-go, as we just don't have the ridership to get one at no cost, and the cost is in the 12-15k range - but time will tell.

Hey, if I can get a few people to quit driving their cars solo to work, I'll be happy. I'm told that the latest study by 494 Commuter Services shows 95% of Twin Cities commuters drive solo - that's just wrong. What are you doing to make a difference?

=======================

And this video just made me laugh out loud for about 20-seconds

Explain this to the insurance
Uploaded by kiev333

this is not nam, there are rules here, dude

People often ask me why they can't download photos easier from my flickr site. In the past I had no problem with this, but then I started seeing my photos being used on other websites without my permission. What's the deal, you ask? Well, some of these sites are commercial businesses that are gaining profit from their illegal use of my copyrighted images, for one. I've let a few of my images be used for on-line purposes and in a few magazines, with and without compensation to me - the difference being they all asked me for permission first.

The latest in the long line of cheats is Discovery Communications, Inc., who is using an image of mine for an article about riding your bike through the winter. Looking through the legal garble on their site, you'd think they would at least try to cover their ass by obtaining my permission - and of course you'd be wrong in that thinking. In this case some guy named Lloyd Alter decided to use an image of mine in his article - notice how there is no way to contact him nor is their an easy way to contact Discovery Communications, Inc. I sent off a letter asking them to take down my image and to compensate me for its use since 26 November 2007 - my guess is they ignore me.

[edit - as you can see by the link, my image is no longer being hosted on their server. No word yet on compensation.]

poodle hostage and obama

These showed up the other night on the Greenway...



Then I went to Pineda Tacos on Lake Street. Then I went and heard The Wrexican play at the Triple Rock. It was Monday night and all was well, then it snowed on the ride home and it was wet and I was tired.

why abandon a loved one?

please don't leave your bike locked to a fence near the railroad tracks.

Large Fella

My friend Scott made the local newspaper - read his story and then never complain about any of your trivial problems ever again. Scott is also the father of my girlfriend, Chloe, who recently made and gave me some black and red ninja beads to keep me safe while biking.

oldie but a goodie

Happy Monday, people. No, that's not snow you see outside - just relax and watch this video.

slick-50 recap

34 riders strong. 50 miles long.



I only fell twice - once when the trail collapsed on me and the other when I collided with Ben, who suddenly stopped, causing me to gracefully dismount off a hill.

I've got for you 2 highlight videos.

Here's Ian going ass-down in the icy water...


another video with us on the rollout...


not many photos of the riding, too difficult to ride one-handed in the sludge, but here's a small collection from me.

wishing you were there...

friday update

Kudos to the dentist for taking the 1st t-shirt giveaway competition - turns out he was there just two days prior for his own photo game - I should have known.

A HUGE thanks for those who have pledged to the multiple sclerosis 150-mile ride I'm doing this June. If you're looking for a tax deductible way to pledge to research towards a cure for MS, please consider helping out. I know there are lots of worthy causes out there and know you probably 'give at the office,' but even a few bucks means a lot.

Here's my current tally as of a few minutes ago:

Went and saw the bike pornography show last night. Overall the show was in good taste, with the one exception being the final video, which is likely in violation of at least 97 Utah state laws and will prevent me from ever sitting on a used seat again - I'll never condition my saddle the same way either.

Linden thinks this article is worthwhile, and on a non-related note - if you have any plastic lawn furniture in your backyard, and you live anywhere near Minnehaha Falls you might want to bring it indoors at night.

T-shirts are back in stock at Stroker Ace - stop by and get some.

beard comes off this weekend - stay tuned for updates.

t-shirt giveaway

One (1) t-shirt to the first person to correctly identify the location of this photo:


leave your answer in the comments - offer not valid to any persons present at the taking of this image.

get your thighs on

When was the last time you saw grown men and women cry? Show up this Saturday and experience it anew. If you haven't been training for this ride, don't show up - but that's just one man's opinion.

greasy, muddy, slick, peanut butter trail action. do it.

Go to the front door. Get explicit.

In case you don't check the One on One blog - a mysterious friend asked me to post the following...

Here's some late breaking film action and just in time too. Today I walked a bike out at 6:59pm, rode it around the block. At 7pm it was still light out. This Thursday March 13th, for one night only! Strong Arm Marketing presents, The Pornography of the Bicycle. A series of short films on the theme of Bike Porn. It's cumming on thru it's east coast tour here in Mpls. It will play at the StrongArm Marketing Complex. 117 Washington Ave N. Mpls, MN. $5 at the door. 99 to 100 limited seats. That's this Thursday night. Door at 8pm, Director/Producer intro at 8:15pm. Showtime at 8:30pm. Scrool down the trailer page here for a short look. We all know cycling, and sex, are some of the best things life offers us. You really do not want to miss this. Spring is coming:) (go)

Communism at OUR Auto Show!

Two local carfree advocates Ken Avidor and my buddy Andy Singer were recently interviewed at a car show here in the Twin Cities. Read their thoughts while walking around the "dinosaurs" on display before reading the comments left by those not wishing to rock the boat of social normality after being forced to read the thoughts of the two socialists - non-tax paying, food stamp collecting, road blocking, uneducated socialists, that is.

I've asked Andy to send me the photo of him in the Hummer - I can't wait!


edit - Ken posted his video in the comments

silent auction - March 27th

you should go

Enjoy it while it lasts

While it's still winter here in Minneapolis or elsewhere, take advantage of what you've got. I enjoy riding down sledding hills - this one has a nice series of moguls (bumps) as interference. Don't let yourself fall, just stay focused.

not over yet

Winter ain't over folks - brought to all our attention with the latest in snowfalls this morning. I hit the pavement pretty hard Sunday night with the freezing rain and nearly bit it last night. Now to just make it home tonight with the fresh coverage riding summer slicks...

(freezing) rain drops keep falling on my head(set)