Isaac Looking Cool with My 1990 Raleigh Technium

This is my teenage son with my 20-year-old Raleigh hybrid. We dragged out of the basement, pumped up the tires and tuned it up a bit. I haven't ridden this bike for a couple years. For years this was my main bike; I must have logged thousands of miles on it. I took it for a quick spin and remembered why I liked it so much...it is quite the ride. I'm glad that Isaac wants to start using it.

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#141)

 

A 5 lb. bag of dog food.

$22.71 in groceries.

A box of Gato Negro Cabernet Sauvignon.

A u-lock.

A plastic crate.

Two for-sale signs.

This is Beautiful

 

 My apologies, but I cannot remember the source of this image.

Whole Wheat Sun Dried Tomato Bread with Cheddar and Parmesan (step-by-step photos and instructions)

 Bring 3 cups of water to a boil, turn it off, then add 8 ounces (about 2 cups) of sun dried tomatoes to the hot water. Allow the liquid to cool to room temperature.

 Combine the tomato-water mixture with 3 cups of whole wheat flour and a tablespoon of instant yeast. Place it in a container with a lid and allow this to ferment for 1 to 12 hours. I allowed it to ferment overnight. The first photo is when it was just mixed; the second was in the morning, when it was fully ripe (click to see larger images).

Pour the starter into the bowl of an upright electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add 6 cups unbleached bread flour, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/4 cup virgin olive oil, and another tablespoon of instant yeast. Mix the dough on medium for about 6 minutes. If the dough seems dry, add a little water (the tomatoes tend to absorb water). Then add about 4 ounces of shredded cheddar and a couple ounces of grated parmesan. Mix it for another couple of minutes.

This is what the dough will look like when it is fully mixed. It will have passed the windowpane test and will have s light sheen to it. There will pieces of tomato easily apparent; there will also be specks of cheddar and Parmesan visible.

Remove the dough from the mixer, knead it for a minute or two on the counter, then place it in a lightly oiled bowl or rising bucket. Allow the dough to ferment for about 90 minute, or until doubled in size.

 

 Pour the dough onto a work surface, cut it into 4 equal pieces (or two pieces if using larger loaf pans), shape the dough into loaves, and roll them in Parmesan cheese.

 

Place the loaves into lightly oiled pans. Preheat an oven to 400F. Allow the bread to rise for about 60 minute.

Bake the bread for about 30 minute. Mist the oven every ten minutes with water, and rotate the breads halfway through the baking process. Remove the bread from their pans and allow to cool for 15 minutes before slicing.

 

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#140)

 

Three loaves of still-warm whole wheat sun-dried tomato bread.

A plastic crate.

The current edition of  Mise en Place magazine.

A u-lock.

Two More Uses For Bikes and Trikes

 

Photos found here and here.

A bike hearse and a bike bar...hmmm. Both are esoteric, I suppose. And both are as equally enviromentally friendly and just as important as the other...they both offer a service. I suppose it depends on your view as to whether they are linked to one another. Personally the bar seems to be way more fun...at least I'd be able to appreciate it and enjoy the ride.

To read about the bike hearse and the bike bar click here and here.

Thank You, Chef Joyce Goldstein

Photo found here.

I have been a fan of Chef Joyce Goldstein since the first time that I opened the pages of her seminal book, Back to Square One (named after her pioneering restaurant); my copy of the book now sits on a shelf stained and dog eared from years of use and kitchen consultations. And a recent article she wrote for Food Arts Magazine made me love and respect her even more. The article addresses her views of the celebrity chef-centric kitchens of today and their often unnecessary deconstruction of classical dishes. Here's an excerpt:

I am tired of chef creations saying “look at me, see how clever I am, just look at my dazzling technique!” Restaurant dining has become so chef- centric that the experience and pleasure of the diner can get lost in the shuffle for fame, glory and originality

It is truly an excellent article and more timely than ever...someone had to say this. I encourage you to read the rest of the article at her blog, click here for a direct link.

Thank you Ms. Goldstein for writing this article.

Good Solid Advice

 

Found it here via but it belongs here

This Inspires Me (Too)

If there is a more inspiring slide show out there about longtail bikes I'm not aware of it. I originally posted this short clip last year and just recently watched it again. It moved me just the same this time. If you are at all interested in bikes as a viable mode of transport (which I'm assuming you are if you're reading this blog) then I encourage you watch it. To visit the World Bike website click here.


Worldbike Slideshow: Bicycles as a tool for Development from Ross Evans on Vimeo.

This Inspires Me

Photo Found Here

It's on Its Way

 

Photo Found Here

Just got word from the good people at Yuba that my order is being processed, which I'm assuming means is ready to be shipped. I ordered the bike more than a month ago and had to wait because I ordered the stylish matte black variety. Most of my bikes are painted black (my current Mundo being the exception); I either purchased them that way or painted them myself. I suppose it's my somewhat sarcastic nod to Henry Ford and his famous quote about his original automobiles: "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black". At any rate, I am very excited; I'll keep you posted...and hey, it's way cheaper than a sports car.

Incidentally, my current Mundo is still for sale. I've temporarily lowered the price to $600(u.s.). If you're within a 150 mile radius (240K) of where I live and are interested feel free to email or leave a post. Quite a bargain for a bike of this caliber.

Vegetable Ragout with Thai Curry

 

 

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#139)

 

A canvas bag containing a few books.

Two loaves of freshly baked multi-grain bread.

A bottle of water.

A u-lock.

A Very Close Call

 

Photo found here.

I have a scary story to relate and am still a little shaken by it. But first I have to say that the above photo is not the person I mention in the story. I don't know who the person was in real life nor do I know who the person is in the photo; it just fit the story. 

The story is that I came very close tonight to being hit by a car, and the irony is that I was riding on the sidewalk (pavement), not in the street. I was on the sidewalk because I was riding down Delaware Avenue which has absolutely no shoulder and cars fly past way faster than they should, otherwise I would normally be riding in the street.

Anyhow, there I was pedaling down my familiar route to the gym for a quick steam and swim. And as any bicylist knows who rides a regular route, I was aware of every crack in the road, blind spots around parked cars and buildings, and other problematic areas. So as I approached the parking lot of an apartment building that is surrounded by a 4-foot brick wall I did what I usually do...stand up on my pedals so I can see over the wall to see if a car is about to exit. I didn't see anyone so I sat back down and pedaled.

Just as my front tire entered the driveway a car came swinging out and the driver was looking in the opposite direction, attempting to plunge herself into the rush-hour traffic. This entire event happened in maybe a second or two but it seemed like longer. 

Normally if I see a driver coming when our paths will cross I make eye contact...both for my sake and so that they see that I see them. This wasn't going to happen, at least not for a second or two...which was almost a second too late.

It's interesting how you never know how you are going to act in certain situations, or what you will say. It would be different if it were a planned situation but they never are. Anyhow, all I could do was yell Whoa! Hey! She still was looking the other way and I truly felt she was ready to step on the gas pedal and gun it out into the street. At this point I was directly in front of the car, only a few feet away and it was heading directly for me. In that split second, the moment when I really thought I was going to get hit, the only thing that came to mind was: This is going to hurt. I was maybe two feet directly in front of this moving car. 

Then, in an instant she turned and slammed on the breaks...screeching to a halt. My right pedal clipped the bumper of the car. I almost fell off the bike.

At this point our eyes finally met and she looked horrified (I'm sure I did as well) and she said something, probably apologizing though I couldn't hear her through the glass. Under "normal circumstances" I would be more sympathizing to her. But in this case the first words that came out of my mouth were: What the f**K is wrong with you? Keep your eyes on the f**king road.

As I pedaled on I visibly shook. And as I pedaled I also thanked God that I was not hit and I prayed for the women who almost hit me...both of our lives would have been changed forever. When I arrived at the gym I sat in the steam room until I was as shriveled as an old pickle. The heat felt good; it felt good to sweat...it felt good to feel.

I guess the moral of this story, fellow bicyclists, is that even on the sidewalk you are not safe from the over-population of often numb and non-aware drivers. Ride, but ride safely.