"He who works with hands, and his head, and his heart is an artist."

"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist."

- St. Francis of Assisi



Photos courtesy of Above Category Bike shop in Mill Valley, California. Bike frame was painted special by Dario Pegoretti for Robin Williams.  Robin must have one of the finest bike collections anywhere.

Deviance 1988

Birthdays often cause reflections:
Last Sunday my odometer kicked over another year. No biggie really. I had planned to take a selfie the moment I woke up to commemorate another year. But somehow, my photographic skills dived to a new level of worthless. I guess I am the anti-thesis of a friend of mine who once told me she was well above average in everything. Oh well, the best laid plans.

So instead I have these two pictures:
Priorities on my day were to ride like I did 20 years ago. And at the half point of my ride I would drink a strong cup of coffee, eat a Cinnamon bun and ride home. I wanted to make sure I could still get it up (into the big ring...get your mind out of the gutter girl) and go hard enough so that no one would pass me unless astride motorcycle...And even then I would give them a run for their money.

This is me circa 1988 (20 years ago...I am old): I had just broken into the principals office one night with another scoundrel and proceeded to make long distance calls while using the Polaroid camera that they used to make school ID's to take inappropriate pictures in various positions simulating bad assness to the max.

I was a little bit of a trouble maker. I always chalked it up to my curiosity: I always wanted to know what would happen if I did something or other that I was not supposed to do. Nothing too serious, but just enough to get me sent to the principals a few too many times, fail gym twice (I was a varsity athlete...) and make my poor mother worry more than she should have.

Anyway this is my birthday photo to show how far I have come.

Betty Page.

I just read that the great Betty Page passed.

Poaching.

Hard to image that this is in NYC.

Ian Francis - My new favorite painter.

Ian Francis - 'Two People Try to Work Out Why The Light is so Strange', originally uploaded by Romanywg.

Never forget.

Its like my Independance Day., originally uploaded by Swobo Clothing and Bicycles.

Friday night and I am home finally.

A week of slow painful interaction in uncertain times. While one could get caught up with the bad news of the number unemployed spiking, I choose to focus on how far we have come.

Dario Pegoretti - Every true lover of the bike should ride one once.

Dario Pegoretti - PINK FLOYD_10, originally uploaded by bonjour0430.

I am astounded by his work. This is a hand painted Pink Floyd frame. While I am not a fan of Pink Floyd, I am a fan of the handwritten lyrics and detailing that go into this frame.

I think every real true lover of the bike should ride one just once. Maybe the closest thing to a rolling piece of fine art.

Pegoretti will only increase in value as the lost craft of bike artisan is slowly dwindling.

Hmmm

Roberts t-shirt, originally uploaded by Swobo Clothing and Bicycles.

Just Pedal

BKW posted a story that really resonated with me. Please read it. It may mean something to you as well. Maybe not. It summed up how I have felt in the past as there have been many times I went for rides in the cold (or heat. It did not matter, it was therapy), more often than not solo, in the hope of gaining perspective and finding my rhythm again.  

Ebb and flow of life comes and goes. Some days you are so good you barely touch the ground. Other days you wonder how you will ever make it.

The post on BKW reminded me that even when things are not great, like now, they can get better. Biking is one way to make things a little better.

Tomorrow morning I pedal.