A Scary Intersection, a few Geese Flying South, and a Winter Cycling Epihany

People often ask me if I'm not scared to ride on the streets [with cars], especially during the winter. No, is usually my answer. But I'll add this: I don't get scared on a bike in traffic very often but today I was. I had to run an errand after work and found myself on the cusp of Buffalo's East Side. Buffalo is a small city but I don't venture to the east side on a bike very often, thus I wasn't sure which was my best route. At any rate I found myself on the corner of Elm and Genesee Streets facing north (red dot on the map above..click to enlarge). I was heading up two blocks to make a left at Goodell, but the problem was that the entrance to route 33 (the Kensington Expressway) is right there. The speed limit on Elm is 30mph (48km/h) but the speed limit on the expressway is 60mph (96km/h). Well you probably wouldn't notice it unless you were on foot or on a bike how fast the cars were barreling down Elm street, basically using it as an on-ramp for the expressway. And to go north I had to traverse the actual on ramp; cars veered right at 60mph (or more) directly into my path to speed onto the expressway. No one slowed; they just honked. It took 3 traffic signal changes before I saw a long enough break in traffic to make a go for it. What a sight it must have been...an overly dressed (for the cold) middle-aged guy pedaling like hell with an army of traffic behind him, just to make it past the on-ramp of an expressway.

I've mention many times how bicycling for me is beyond the physical at times, the same way meditative walking can be or also lap swimming. Speaking specifically about biking it's about being outside on a crisp winter's day; it was cold outside today, but other than my fingers I was sweating (I really do need to get better gloves). As I huffed and puffed against the cold wind riding my 40lb (18k) bike it felt good; I was getting a physical workout, saving petrol (and maybe a little bit of the planet), and with the winter sun just about to set I felt alive. And as I stood waiting for a break in traffic, and watched cars zip by (mostly with one person in each vehicle), I was truly glad that I was standing on that corner gripping my handlebars instead of a steering wheel. But I was, in fact, standing in a bicycle wasteland, there was not another bicycle or pedestrian within view.

As I was resting and waiting for the right moment to push off into traffic--I had my right foot poised on the pedal--I looked up and saw a v-formation of geese flying south directly over the city. After a crazy-busy day at work I just stood for a few moments and watched them...they looked beautiful, peaceful; and I wondered what it must be like to be up there with them. Then (and not to sound too hokey) a feeling of peace came over me and I knew that I had nothing to worry about because I had and always will have everything I need. As this thought came to me I glanced over my shoulder and saw the break in traffic, and I pushed hard on my right pedal...

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"     Matthew 6:25-27

This photo was found at WiseAcre Gardens.

Lake Effect

Well the snow has finally hit and it seems a bit early this year, at least for this type of snow. This is actually the second heavy snow of the season. The most recent was just a few days ago which was classic lake effect. If you are not from this area of the world you may not be familiar with the term but lake effect snow hits suddenly and heavy, and often in distinct bands (the photo in the previous post was just taken yesterday and the pavement was dry). In lesser amounts this is sometimes called a snow squall. An area can be pelted with snow while a couple miles away it may be clear. This was the case the other day when the area just south of Buffalo received 3 feet of snow but the city center only had a few inches. The picture below is an aerial view of the snow coming in off Lake Erie last week. I personally have never seen this look so dramatic; most likely it was shot from an airplane. But you can see the intensity of it. Unfortunately I do not know the author of the picture to give credit where credit is due. I downloaded it from Facebook, where it was shared and copied, etc. We actually only received about 7 or 8 inches today but we are supposed to get more tonight. Our city has been famous for snow for more than a century apparently but it really made the spotlight during the never forgettable Blizzard of '77. I was 16 at the time and had a blast (we could literally walk up a snow bank onto the roof of our house). At any rate, the snow made for a slow-go today on the bike. The picture above was when I arrived home from work. The snow was not too deep so it wasn't too bad riding, but when the roads are not plowed I am more worried about the motorists than I am staying on my bike. So tonight when I went to the health club I actually drove my truck...I may be crazy but I'm not stupid. The roads should be better tomorrow.

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#250)...with an edit.

Two plastic crates containing sundries and groceries from two stores.
A box of Nag Champa incense.
A DVD (front rack).
A St. Nicholas gift for my son (obviously I can't reveal that until tomorrow in the event he reads this blog).

This part of the post is an edit, an add-on, because I meant to--but forgot to--relate it earlier when I originally posted it.

Anyhow, as I was in the first store of my evening ride there was a man there returning recyclables for cash...you know the type, not sure if they are homeless but they are definitely "rough around the edges." Now I am in no way trying to sound disparaging towards this man because I have a deep respect for people who can partially support themselves by collecting cans and bottles and I think I am a little rough around the edges myself. And truth be told I really question whether or not I will eventually be collecting cans and bottles to buy flour to bake bread (no joke). At any rate, he was on a bike and we both happened to exit the store at the same time. He saw my bike and was immediately taken by it and struck up a conversation about it...how it would be great to have a bike like that to carry stuff, etc. (I concurred). The bike rack where I had it locked to was at the corner of the building and we talked as I loaded and secured the items. In the middle of our conversation he turns away from me, sort of at the corner of the building, pulls out his penis and begins to urinate against the building...he continued to talk as he urinated. Now I'm all about living simply in the city but in a somewhat more dignified manner. And as I pedaled home I said a silent prayer for that man and hoped for myself that while I really feel it's OK to ride a bike and collect bottles for money at any age, I really hope not to lose touch so much that I urinate on a building in public.

Enough

I came across this sign on someone's front lawn while I was on my bike today. Enough already...the sign says it all.

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#249)...and a quick comment

A canvas book bag containing various items.
Three liters of red wine.
A cardboard box containing 3 pints of homemade dog food (chopped prime rib scraped from diners plates).

I had a hot and bustling evening at work tonight and really looked forward to hopping on my bike afterwords. Before leaving work I checked the temperature and it said it was 25F (-4C) so I put on an extra sweater and a wool scarf around my neck. And as I walked out the back door with my bike I saw one of the patrons I had just served dinner. They commented on me being on a bike, and asked if I weren't cold. No, I told them, I'd be fine...and I unconsciously added that I own a truck but choose to ride a bike when I can. I don't know why I often add that...it's as if I feel odd that I'm a middle aged guy riding a bike, perpetuating the American stigma (in my head) that if you're not in a car (a really nice, expensive, and big car) then you must not be worth much...or at least can't afford a really nice car.

Before going home I wanted to purchase wine (which I'm drinking as I type these words) but had to go to the ATM first. It was such a beautiful winter night that I chose to go to a different bank rather than the one closest to where I work so I could get a bit of fresh night air.

I will admit that it was a bit cold at first, but that only lasted a minute or so. But even if I was a little chilly, I thought, what's wrong with that? The entire round trip (2 miles) took just a little while; it may have been faster but I was pedaling slower than usual after working all day. What's wrong with being a little chilly in the winter (or sweaty in the summer)? If I would have driven it probably would have taken about the same length of time. OK, maybe a couple minutes would have been shaved off...but I would not have been out in the crisp winter air and gotten a quick invigorating ride in...I would have sat on my car-couch and pressed the gas pedal. After spending an evening facing a hot stove those few minutes on a bike on a chilly winters eve were priceless. So I'll re-answer the question I was asked earlier. No I am not cold as I ride my bike, but even if I am every so often, I don't mind. It reminds me of my surroundings; it makes me feel alive.

My Crazy Beet-Bread Experiment

The above image was found here.

This post is proof of two things: (1) good and wholesome bread is simple to make, and (2), you can add nearly anything to the dough (within reason, of course) and have truly delicious and unique results. If you've been to this blog before you know that I like to bake bread, and that I do it often and with different flavorings; some of them unorthodox. This, I'll freely admit, is one of the oddest, but the resulting bread is not only beautiful but also delicious. The idea for this bread began, oddly enough, when I reached into the back of a cooler at work and knocked over a small bucket of water that also contained raw, diced beetroot...yup, you guessed it, beet juice everywhere. Anyhow, I had forgotten the beets were in there (obviously) and as I was mopping up the magenta-colored liquid I had the brilliant idea (ok, maybe it's not brilliant) to make bread with them. And after weighing and shaping the loaves I found myself with a small portion of the raw dough (that wasn't really big enough to make a loaf), so I rolled it flat and cooked it as beet-flavored flatbread...delicious. I can feel my late Lebanese grandmother smiling at me. The flatbread, because of it's short cooking time, retained much of it's  beautiful color, while the loaves themselves, which of course bake much longer, turned a golden brown with slight pink around the edges. Gorgeous. Anyhow, this is how to make it:

Boil the beets until very soft, allow them to cool to room temperature in the cooking liquid. Strain them, retaining the liquid. Measure some of the liquid with the beets and puree them. I used 100% whole wheat flour for this bread so I started the dough in two separate bowls (click here to see more explicit pictures on how to do this; click here for a recipe).

After the preferment did it's work I mixed the dough. Beautiful, isn't it?

After the dough rose once, I gently pushed it down, and let it rise a second time.

Then I weighed, shaped, and panned the dough.

After it rose in their pans I baked it in a pre-heated oven.

And as aforementioned, while the loaves were rising and fermenting I baked a loaf of flatbread, which satisfied myself and the rest of the kitchen staff until the loaves were finished.

I have to say that this has one of the most interesting flavors  for a bread I've ever had...while not entirely sweet, it does have a sweetness (I also added a bit of honey to the dough). And despite it's beautiful color, there is only a hint of beet flavor. The dough is soft and airy. As I type these words I'm having a PB & J on this very bread (toasted)....mmm. That's all that needs saying.

Brrr...

It was a chilly ride to the grocery store tonight, only 3 miles round trip but it was still cold...26F (-3c).  Brrr...

Chicken Thighs with Brown Rice, Spinach, Turmeric, and Whole Chilies

If you've been to this blog before you know that I love one pot meals...they're easy, super-flavorful, nutritious, make great left-overs, and the best part is there is only one pot to wash. This is a variation of the basic chicken-and-rice or arroz con pollo recipe. In this recipe I used boneless chicken thighs, brown rice, and spinach because I like their flavor, and turmeric because it is so good for you...plus it gives whatever you cook such a beautiful color. Anyhow, here's how to make it.

Dust chicken thighs with whole wheat flour, patting off any excess flour. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or low-sided pot. Add the chicken and brown it on both sides, then remove it to a plate.

In the same skillet add a diced onion and a few whole chilies (I also added diced carrot simply because I had it on hand). Cook the onion and chilies for a couple minutes then add a couple cloves of minced garlic and a teaspoon or two of ground turmeric.

Add a cup of rice; stir it to coat it with the oil and spices. Then add a cup or so of cooked and chopped spinach, and then stir in 2 1/2 - 3 cups chicken broth and a couple teaspoons of kosher salt.

Bring the liquid to a boil then lower it to a simmer. Cover the pot with a lid and cook it for about 45 minutes, or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to rest for a few minutes...while you slice some bread, maybe an orange, or pour a glass of wine. Then gently fluff with a spoon and, if you like, sprinkle it with hot sauce.

Let It Snow...

This is a follow up to the previous post where I commented that the weather predictions were, as they often are, hype...well I stand corrected. After a few lightening bolts and thunder crashes I looked out the window and saw snow (and yes, I went out in the street in lounge pants and slippers to snap this photo). Buffalo has always been known for it's winters ever since the Blizzard of '77 (click here to read about the October storm of 2006, click here to see a list of some others)...but we still recieve far less snow than many other American cities (but we still always seem to get the press). Click here to see what other cities get in regards to snow and cold (we don't even make the list). None-the-less, it is part of our city's heritage and I think everyone gets a little excited when the first snows come (after we get over the minor depression and denial that our beautiful summer and fall is gone for a couple seasons). If you're from this area you are so used to the snow that a few inches are nothing to worry about...driving in it is simply a nuisance and biking in it offers "special challenges" (wished I would have purchased my studded tires), but I find it beautiful to walk and bike in (it does get a bit tiresome come March and April)  At any rate, looks like I'll be riding my winter bike to work in the morning...and the dogs aren't going anywhere...they love the heat from the wood stove.

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#248)...and a couple comments

A canvas book bag containing pens, pencils, books and other things.
A live poinsettia plant.
A paper bag containing three plastic containers which contain a pint of orange -ginger beef, turmeric rice pilaf, and shredded vegetable salad with sesame dressing.

I had planned on riding the Mundo to work this morning, but then heard the weather report calling for lake effect snow. I should know by now not to believe the hype...the news, and many people for that matter, really like to hype the weather and it ends up being just that...hype. At any rate, it snowed a bit, but not much and I could have ridden the Mundo after all. But it's not really a problem as I've been enjoying riding my winter bike again as well.

I've also been enjoying using the new front rack for smaller loads such as this. I've really become accustomed to the fact that the rack doesn't turn when the front wheel does...it really keeps the load, and ultimately the entire bike (and me) more stable. But I'm still having issues with the bars of the rack being so far apart that things can fall through them or at least not sit correctly...not the flattened cardboard box to for an impromptu deck. But of course this is not a problem at all, because if my biggest problem in life is that the bars are too far apart on my front rack I surely do have problems...for every problem there is a solution, and an opportunity for growth. I'll eventually build a wooden deck for it.

As I typed the last sentence there was just a flash of lightening followed by a boom of thunder (it's always a little weird and eerie when it thunders and lightnings during snow; I associate it with rain)...maybe it wasn't hype after all.