Sunday, July 18, 2021

When downsizing works: Burley Travoy in action


 On Friday, I towed my guitar to the Eastside Jewish Commons to teach music for a local day camp.
THIS was the purpose for which I'd sold my kiddie trailer and acquired a used Burley Travoy.
It worked like a dream.











Tying the guitar down was easy, using the gaps between the plastic backing and the aluminum frame to weave a couple of John's Irish straps (available from Rivendell Bicycle Works) and a really long strap left over from my Surly Big Dummy.

Next weekend, I have two gigs that will require me to bring the guitar, a mic stand, a vocal mic and a small amp with all the cords. I will probably just toss the mic and cords in my saddlebag, put the mini-amp up front in the basket and tow the guitar as shown here. I'll try and get photos to let you know how it all works out.

Happy riding!

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Transitions and changes: the value of labor, the value of bicycles

It's been awhile since I've had anything meaningful to offer here.

I have not had a lot of motivation to do anything bike-related this summer, including both riding and repairing bikes. I have a small number of bikes that I've bought in order to fix up and flip, but lately the parts have been harder to come by and I am running out of free time to throw into them; because music venues are opening up and I have to try and make a living.

Meanwhile, a new twist has just been thrown into my micro-local bikeiverse: a fellow who moved into the neighborhood this summer has just hung a shingle, advertising that he's available to repair bicycles for free. He says he's an "experienced amateur," which could mean anything; and you still have to buy parts (which he apparently doesn't have a lot of on hand). But maybe it's a sign that it is time to scale down my bike activities and perhaps my stock of bikes, parts and tools.

High Holy Days are early this year; Rosh Hashanah falls on Labor Day. Plus I need to pour more energy into hustling for gigs, since that IS my day job.

Yes, I'm still depressed. No, I'm not planning to end my life. Yes, I know that even with the limits of Medicaid and age I still have it way better than about two thirds of the world.

I may let this blog go at some point, because I don't really have a lot to offer about bicycles anymore. We live in a different world now, and my relationship with bicycles is changing rapidly. I no longer believe they'll help us save the world, because there are too many powerful and wealthy interests lined up to keep that from happening. But on a cool summer evening, a bicycle is still lovely thing to ride around the neighborhood, to hear crickets and say hi to neighbors, and that's something.

Happy riding.