Quick Friday Morning in the Village...

I like listening to a good banjo pickin' from time to time, and that is exactly what I got this morning. While I finished off a bagel conEGGtion (on an egg bagel with sausage, if you must know), and cup of Italian Roast from 42nd Street Bagel, I got to enjoy a few picked tunes. Naturally, as long as I was settin' a spell, I also took a few photos of the cyclists passing through the intersection of Bonita and Yale. Not at all a bad start for a Friday.

look close, you will notice his glasses match the orange rims

Claremont 91711 Day...

Today was a once in a city's lifetime event - Claremont's zip code is 91711, as in 9-17-11. So, there was a daylong community celebration; food, music, tours, art. Many of us celebrated by riding our bikes to the various sites, which were spread out all around the city. Though seeing all these people out and about on bikes was a pleasant plus, I was especially surprised to see that we have a Pedersen bicycle residing in our city. I later found out that it arrived with a Claremont family, who had been living in Denmark for the past year, and have recently returned.

The Racer and the Commuter...

their paths crossed but for a brief moment,

early morning sun

coffee, bagel, then

one sped away, other business to attend.

the other lingered,

conversation, debate,

different paths, different pace,

common means.

Yes, the one is mine; the other belonging to a member of the

Yale Avenue Breakfast Club

Slow Sunday Scenes from the Village...

a three for one shot

the bike racks at the Colleges are filling up again,

even so these colorfully wrapped bars caught my eye while passing through

more color, this time at the cut-flower end of the farmers' market

loaded up and headed for home, bikes are best for any age, any time

the day's cycle chic photo

there goes michael (not yours truly)

one fully loaded messenger bag

the same woman who walked past in that first photo wearing flip-flops;

across the way, she changed into cycling shoes and was on her way

Two blocks of wood, poor parking, pairs and TOD...

Just some things I noticed this morning. Some mornings you have it, others you don't. This morning's ride, just a few laps around town seemed more an exercise in futility than anything. There have always been certain physical signs, that once I learned to recognize them, indicate that a good ride is in hand. One of these signs is the ability to easily push a big gear from the moment the cranks start to turn. Today was not one of those days. My legs might as well have been a pair of lifeless blocks of wood. I could not coax them into generating even a moderate amount of speed, even after shifting into the middle, proletariat gears. Too late, I shifted into the small ring in an effort to spin some life into those knotty blocks. It was pointless, and so a moderate training morning turned into an easy Village ride for coffee. 

Oh, and is anyone bothered by the fact that bike lanes have gone missing around town. Berkeley Avenue, no more bike lanes. College, north of the sharrows, no more bike lanes. 210 overpasses on Indian Hill and Mills, nor more bike lanes. Most puzzling are the College Avenue ones since they were just installed (painted) in April or May. The ones on the overpasses I noticed a few weeks ago; I figured it was some CalTrans thing since it looked like some surface treatment had taken place, or was going to take place but, there has been no re-striping still. It is confusing to drivers who, given the width of the road, seem to think there are two motor vehicle lanes now. Good thing the LAB isn't conducting a site visit to judge the city's bike friendliness right now. Lets resolve the problem.

i have noted in the past, the proliferation of cars parked along lower Mt. Baldy Road belonging the the drive-to-walk people using the Thompson Creek Trail or Wilderness Park. seeing cars blocking the bike lane, like the closest one, are common in the morning. but the next car along, decided to take it a step further. i kept wondering if police would drive by and cite him/her, but didn't see anything on the windshield the two times i passed by.

pair one

pair two. actually a quartet, but the two ladies behind let a gap open up

Claremont's latest Transit Oriented Development is progressing, opposite the depot

210 overpass at Mills. lane markings of any kind are a little indistinct at this point

Friday Nights Live...

We popped into the Village last night for a little event hosted by Claremont during the summer months called Friday Nights Live. Similar to, but not to be confused with the First Friday Art Walks, it is a marketing thing, designed to get people downtown. Residents and visitors benefit, by being able to enjoy some good music and entertainment, and businesses benefit by the increased foot traffic. Last night a youth band called Give Up The Junk performed at City Hall Plaza, while Sligo Rags were at the Public Plaza. We saw Sligo Rags last year performing in front of the Chamber of Commerce building, which is not the greatest location; this year they got the prime spot, and I have never seen the Public Plaza so full. As their name suggests, Sligo Rags is a Celtic folk band, with a touch of bluegrass, based in Southern California. They certainly had the place hopping last night, and it was thoroughly enjoyable to relax and listen to their set. 

It was also enjoyable seeing so many bikes around, either parked, or being ridden here and there. The fact that most of the College students are long gone to their far-flung homes for the summer hardly seemed to make a difference; residents also recognize that bikes are the most fun and efficient way to get around town, especially in the cool of an evening. 

"You Ride Like My Grandma"...

is sometimes apropos. On the way to the Sunday Claremont Farmers' Market,

while the Ukelele Girls provide accompaniment. Slow Sunday Scenes from the Village, a day late.

Cycling Claremont: Birkenstock...

Located on the northwest corner of Bonita and Yale Avenues

is Birkenstock Footprints of Claremont.

Post ride footwear, perhaps.

Peace between Bedlam...

Finished up my first 200+ mile week yesterday in I don't know how long; I am sure it would be years, if I had the energy to check. Now I seem to be paying the piper for the privilege - woke up completely drained, upset stomach, maybe a slight fever. At least it was drizzling (at the time) and I didn't have to suffer the gloom of missing a good day to ride. Well, forward a few hours and the sun is out, the sky is blue, the temperature is warm and, the gloom descends. Go figure. 


It does give me an opportunity to look back at a few photos taken around town the past couple weeks and which I never posted up:

As for that peace and bedlam thing, the Colleges have held their commencement ceremonies this weekend [bedlam], so many of the students will be headed home for the summer and there is likely to be a little less hustle and bustle around town for a few days [peace]. It will be short lived, however, what with the TOC circus setting up their bigtop, midway, and everything else [bedlam] late in the week.

Claremont Earth Day 2011...

or, "why do so many people drive to an Earth Day festival?" That was my son's question this day. We pondered it for a while, not really searching for an answer, just wondering. It is a little bit of de facto hypocrisy that we, unfortunately, expect. Sure a lot of people, like us, rode their bikes into the Village, and I am sure there are many who lived close by and walked. But, far too many drove, idled at the traffic lights, circled blocks in search of a parking spot. And that is a shame, especially on this day. It dilutes the essence, negates whatever thoughts of environmental concern, resource conservation, or visions of sustainability any of those drivers may have held. Anyway, it was an amazing day to celebrate - with food, with music, arts and crafts, with opportunities to learn. 

well at least some people understood the significance of the day

 cheers to droopy eared dogs

 portion of the festival exhibit area

 Claremont's Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee

courtesy of Pomona College, the average American family 

uses that many plastic bags in one year. That mass of bags is named schlumpy,

and schlumpy has a fan page

 one of the bands, I believe the Claremont Blues Society

 public water fountains you can play in are the best

 don't forget the bees. the current exhibit at Studio Claremont

Oh, I almost forgot. I rode my single speed today and had a student from the local middle school tell me it was cool. So, if you ever get to a point that you think you are too old to be cool anymore, at least you can ride a cool bike.