From Mark Frauenfelder on Boing Boing
Just before I did the slide show, along came 100s of cyclists down Valencia, turning on to 21st St. Boisterous, friendly, loud. I’d never seen “Critical Mass” before. Worldwide now, started in SF 1982.
“What is Critical Mass?
Critical Mass is a mass bicycle ride that takes place on the last Friday of each month in cities around the world. Everyone is invited! No one is in charge! Bring your bike!”
https://www.sfcriticalmass.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass
Doorway on 21st Street. I love wandering the city with camera. Country hick: “Wow! Look at that!”
I think San Francisco is culturally rich right now.
This is the single most useful site/blog on the web for me. I can’t say how many useful things this blog has turned me on to. It’s like the electronic Whole Earth Catalog, but what’s better is that it uses no paper, and it’s daily.
Kevin Kelly, ex-Whole Earth Review editor, founding editor at Wired mag, author, photographer, explorer, runs this operation, with daily reviews of useful stuff.
“Cool tools really work. A cool tool can be any book, gadget, software, video, map, hardware, material, or website that is tried and true. All reviews on this site are written by readers who have actually used the tool and others like it. Items can be either old or new as long as they are wonderful. We only post things we like and ignore the rest. Suggestions for tools much better than what is recommended here are always wanted. Tell us what you love.”
Easiest way to get there is to go to kk.org, then click on “Cool Tools” at the left.
Tags: bikes, books, cameras, chickens, cinema, computers, photography, publishing, science, solar, technology, tools Sent in by Anonymous yesterday
Jay Nelson’s electric car, the Golden Gate measures, 96″ x 54″ x 64,” drives 10 miles on a charge with speeds up to 20mph.
It’s a hard climb up, maybe a few miles, but the downhill is FUN! Curves and speed and vistas, coasting. When I let go of the brakes on this (Stumpjumper) bike, it seems to accelerate. Whoo!
I got about halfway down, going at a pretty good speed and I heard “On your left,” and wild Indian on a bike came flying, I mean flying, past me. My first impression was of the long hair blowing in the wind, this guy was dressed not like a cyclist, but in plain old clothes. Goin’ FAST…No helmet. After he flew past, my jaw dropped even further as he started jumping. Front wheel up, back wheel off ground, rotate in air, lining up so landings were right.
Wild and beautiful, the level of his skill and grace. Never seen anything like it. I screamed a whooo and he answered whooo. This was poetry; athleticism, coordination, daring — and joy.
I caught up with him at the bottom; he and buddies were heading in a car to the local skate park. I followed and watched him on his bike and homie Sam on skateboard just shred the place.
He’s 18 and his name is Trevor “Ratman” Perelson. He said he had a website. I asked the name and he said, “Well it’s a vulgar name…” “What is it?” “Well, I was a lot younger when I named it…” “OK, OK, what is it?” dontshaveyourtwat.blogspot.com The enthusiasm is exhilarating, they’re exploring the world with such zest…
We talked for a while. We had things in common, like him and Sam “…seeking secret spots…” It was really my first solid contact with the teenage generation, looks like a whole new deal. I feel privileged to connect with people so young (almost a 60 year age difference here). Evolution…
This is a special spot where 2 creeks come together, it’s usually bubbling with water this time of year, but there’s barely a trickle. Boy, when the rains come I’m going to go out and run or hike and get wet and breathe deeply and smell the richness in the woods as the water soaks into the soil. It’s a hard climb to the top of this road, a good workout, few cars, great views of the coast and woods.
Apropos not of this, but life in general, the Wispr
vaporizer is brilliant: https://shltr.net/wsprvape. Made in Ireland.
Yesterday I ran across these four people on bikes in point Reyes Station. They are: Robin Hill, Abe Greenspan (in the photo), Robin’s dad Tyler Hill, and Chanel Walker. Since leaving South Lake Tahoe, they’ve been on the road for three weeks, heading south from the Oregon border, following the ocean down to Cabo San Lucas. Here’s their blog: https://bikensurf.wordpress.com/
“About the Ride
In September 2011, fellow surf stylist and adventure extraordinaire, Abe Greenspan and my self (Robin Hill) will embark on an epic 3 month adventure, biking down the pacific coast surfing in Baja Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This trip is inspired by a love for adventure, and a humble appreciation for the ocean and a simple life on the road.…”
