And another thing...

 ...or two. One side effect on a week delay on posting is that thoughts that occur during the happening can slip my mind as I write about them. Sure, I could break out the old TBI defense, but that works only for memory, not procrastination.

While I was hiking with my bike, I realized one big advantage of the bike, with panniers, was the grand total of zero bags strapped to my back and fanny. I didn't even have a water bottle stashed in my pants pocket. Yes, bikes are a handy and reasonably agile means of transporting gear. Years ago, Dan or Jacob from Kona had travelled in Africa, and whichever one it was, took special notice of the bikes people were using, an understandable observation for the part owner of a bike company.

The bikes, as they were, had two inline round discs, I'll call them wheels, and some sort of frame holding them in place, but similarities to the bicycles we first worlders (an odd phrase given that Africa is where homo sapiens first developed) ride ended there. Steering, drivetrain, brakes? Nope, these bikes were truly utilitarian ways to transport items without carrying them and maybe a way to coast downhill.

Kona's 1st (I think) bike to improve hiking Africa. 

And all I share about this program is 

"I think".

They were bikes for hiking! Yup, I can relate to that and see it as just the kind of situation Dan and Jake would try to improve as they reasonably could. They're good blokes. Heck, they even once took on supporting some scrappy kid from New England back in the mid to late 90s, although I do hope their benevolence was repaid with an email that maybe helped them decided against developing a new unified rear triangle suspension design just before the industry sent that idea to the scrap heap.

But the other another-thing: I like finding things on the road and such as I pedal through the world. A week ago, I was a plus one at the Pedal People holiday (of your choosing) party, which included a gift exchange. This, however, was definitely my kind party with my kind of people as the gift had to be found either in the trash or a roadside free pile. Yup, I like the Pedal People and enjoy helping as best or worst I can at the Bike Lab every other Saturday. I was even there yesterday, and I hope that isn't far too recent for me to mention in a blog post!

So yes, I was the finder of the rack bag my friend contributed to the gift exchange. I already have a couple, so it was good to pass along the find, but I did keep the handlebar bag that was with it, because I can never have too many of those. Another find: since mid last summer, on the grassy knoll behind the market where I'll often nosh a freshly procured snack, I've been admiring and enjoying the entry door mat that seemed to take up residence there. 

This past Friday, I rode past it again on my way to meeting Pete for a stroll around Mount Warner, and I thought, happily corrrectly, that Pete might be the perfect recipient of such a find.  Quick stop, loop around, strap the mat on the rack, and I was not disappointed by Pete's appreciation of the gift. In our defense against being insensitively crass, we both hold degrees in English from nearby UMass, so we know the  definition which makes the statement true.

Image used with Pete's permission, 

because I've learned & agree that matters. 

I'll take credit/guilt 

for asking him to straddle the arrow.