The Tangled Nest » bikes

The Adorned Bicycle: Inspiring Goodwill

lyanda — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:23:09 +0000

There is usually a spray of orange silk tulips at the base of my bike’s saddle. Not a lot, just a little touch of flower-ness. For this season, there are bells and berries on the handlebars. Such things look pretty and make me happy, but I’ve been completely astonished at how much conversation and delight they inspire in others–in a city where bicycle laws and “rights” continue to be controversial, this simple act brings an unexpected amount of bicycle goodwill. Though my bike is not vintage, it is a classic mixte frame, and that in itself invites a fair bit of discussion when I am out and about, but not nearly as much as the flowers. When I have flowers on my bike, people smile, wave, and even call out, “Lovely bike!” And I cannot count how many times, just because of the flowers, people that pass while I am at a bicycle rack have paused and said to me, “I have a bike I almost never ride, but now I’m thinking…” Sometimes I hear, “I would ride more if my bike was that pretty,” and I respond, “Everyone can have flowers on their bike.” A simple celebration of soulful transportation.

Mothers Day 2010

Tom — Sun, 09 May 2010 01:22:57 +0000

On this Mother’s Day, a couple of simple, beautiful images from our blog-friend Cabelo, an illustrator and community activist in Brasil who draws inspiration from his wife and daughter. They make me think sweetly of my daughter and me, and all mothers with their dear ones. Happy Mother’s Day, to all women who provide sustenance to children, home, and community in so many ways.

Loading The Village Bicycle Project’s 100th Container for Africa

lyanda — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:16:37 +0000

This weekend the three of us had a great time volunteering with the Village Bicycle Project, loading hundreds of used bicycles, parts, and new tools onto a container bound for Ghana. In the last decade, the all-volunteeer Village Bicycle Project has shipped more than 45,000 used bicycles to Africa. This weekend’s effort was hard work, fun, and also a celebration–we were loading the Project’s 100th container.

The bicycles are staged outside the container and then loaded by size like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

VBP founder David Peckham (center, in baseball cap) loads a bike into the container.

While spending time in rural east Africa, we had a chance to witness firsthand the importance of bicycles for village families. A bicycle can make all the difference in access to health care, education, markets, and other opportunities. Literally, a bicycle can lift a family out of poverty, and into sustainability. But the Village Bicycle Project doesn’t just throw bikes at people–they have a solid distribution process on the ground, providing tools and training in bicycle maintenance to individuals and communities, with an emphasis on involving women and girls. Good, good folks.

Claire adds to the giant pile of tires, while volunteers remove pedals and turn handlebars in the background.

After 100 containers, experienced VBP volunteers have it down to a science how to pack the maximum number of bicycles into a container.

Check out the Project’s new website. They list all kinds of ways to donate bicycles at sites across the USA, donate money, or volunteer.

On his last trip to Mozambique, Tom met this man Rafael who had ridden 8 kilometers with his two children on the back of his bicycle, in order to have a doctor at this Catholic hospital look at a rash his son had suddenly developed.

The bicycle parking area outside the outpatient clinic. There was no parking lot for cars because none of the patients and very few of the clinicians can afford them.

PS: If you are interested in bicycles in Africa, or bicycles in general, then head on over to Tom’s great blog Bikejuju.com.

Cycling Inspiration: Bike Art and Bikejuju

lyanda — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:00:44 +0000

Confession: I am not an intrepid cyclist. I do love my orange bike with its big comfy seat, and its step-through frame (what we used to call a “girl’s” bike) so I can leave my little skirts on when I ride. And I love to pedal to the grocery store, or my favorite cafe, or around the neighborhood on a pretty fall day. But if it is raining, or there are too many hills, or my destination is far too away, or I feel whiny, I don’t ride (I do walk instead much of the time, which is not as daunting to me when facing hills or rain…). I want to do better.

"I prefer to go by leg power."

In seeking inspiration, I was thrilled to discover the incredible grassroots work of Brazilian artist Valdinei Calvento, known in his country as “Cabelo.” His work and his words evoke the strength of connection between self, community, nature, and cycling. Tom (my awesome hubby, who is an intrepid cyclist) just discovered Cabelo’s work, and published a series of three posts about it on his blog Bikejuju, featuring Cabelo’s illustration, street art, and posters. So yes, this is a bit of family blog nepotism, but I couldn’t resist sharing a couple of my favorite images, which are followed by the artist’s lovely thoughts.

What is the noise of the cities today? It is the noise of car engines, right? It is not the noise of the birds nor the wind, it is the horns, the accelerations, and the brakes. A city that validates bicycles permits the exchange of courtesies, of looks, of experiences, of contemplation, of gratitude.

Bicycles have a magical effect on their riders. There are moments of reflection that only the pedals can give to us–bicycles point out a different way of looking at the world, a cheap technology, non-polluting, that humanizes and harmonizes the city and its inhabitants.

And while I posted a couple days ago about handmade gifts as a way to lift dark winter spirits, Tom was addressing the same issue on Bikejuju, teaming up with Go Means Go to offer the Dark Days Photo Contest, designed to “celebrate riding in the darkest part of the year, when our motivation flags, the danger increases, and the temperatures plummet.” Submit a photo with bike-related content, taken outdoors, after dark. Bike Glow and Planet Bike have stepped up with amazing prize packages. Details, links, and contest rules at Bikejuju. Go for it!

Meanwhile, find a quiet moment to enjoy more of Cabelo’s beautiful work on his blog and online portfolio.