Edward Dolan wrote:
"Bill Baka" wrote in message
...
Edward Dolan wrote:
"Tom Keats" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Edward Dolan" writes:

The very best places for cyclists to enjoy their rides are in small
towns.
You will be safer there and still be able to do a lot of miles.
I like riding in my hometown medium-sized city, 'cuz
it affords places to go to and, things to do.

Riding here in Vancouver BC is as safe as you make it.

Tell yuh what: I've come to hate riding through the
wilderness for the sole purpose of getting to the
other end, and then heading home again. I already
know what a bunch of trees looks like.

A lot of empty miles is a waste of my time.
I think Tom Keats and I are on the same page here. I prefer to ride my
bike around town too as opposed to riding in the countryside. Almost any
town will present plenty of opportunities to create a ride that is both
enjoyable and interesting. Once I leave town, I have got to be going
somewhere or else it is a waste of time and energy.

Look at it this way - folks have spent most of their lives caring for
their houses and properties. Is it not worthwhile to have a closer look
at what is the result of all this time and effort. In fact, I would say
slow down so you can get a better look at it. Just riding your bike to
pile up the miles is a form of insanity.

Indeed ... places to go and things to see and do! Your hometown!

Well, Mr. Ed,
We are on the same page then. I go out to enjoy the ride, meet people, and
explore side streets I might never even have seen in the car. Many of my
tools are road kill specials that fell out of some red necks' truck and
bounced into the weeds. I hate riding the same roads over and over and I
am not in training for anything more than my own health, so what if I
average 20 MPH and talk to nobody or 10 MPH and stop at every little hint
of a sale, I am enjoying myself and staying fit. I have 39 years left in
'my' Century and want them to be more than saddle sore and sweaty showers
every day.

Well, Bill, have I not said many times before that you are a genius and a
wise man just like me. It is only us older guys who have any sense.

Trees?
California sucks for trees in the central valley since they were cut down
for all the damned rice farming, so when I find a tree, I take time to
enjoy the shade.
As for Minnesota, I have lived there and vacationed there many times, and
the trees are so nice after the City, why are you complaining??

It is only the weather here that I do not like. I consider California a
paradise compared to Minnesota. The summers here go by like quicksilver, but
the winters seem to last forever. Frankly, I do not recommend Minnesota to
anyone who likes the out of doors.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota



Ed,
I bought a house in Andover and arrived with my U-Haul and cars at 1:00
A.M. the night after the great Halloween Blizzard of 1991. I had to
shovel snow until about 3:00 A.M. just to get the truck off the street
and another 2 hours to get the cars in the other driveway. About sunup I
collapsed on the living room floor and slept while my wife and kids Got
all the small stuff out of the cars and truck.
There is snow and there is way too much snow at the wrong time.
Iowa was like an ice sculpture wonderland that night, but could there
have possibly been a worse time to pull up to a new house after a 2,000
mile drive??

Bill Baka