If you're going to bike, you might as well be fancy

Was just looking through files on my computer and found this:

Wowzers.

Cody always looks nice for work, but this was a special day back in June. There was a press conference and everything. Big research announcement.

Why didn't I post this back then? No idea. But I sure wish I did.

So, there's rain in the forecast

I really hate biking in the rain. Really hate it.

Cody also hates it, but occasionally wants to ride his bike even though there's a high likelihood of rain. This week there were a couple of days when storms were sure to hit us any moment, but Cody couldn't resist.

He used his leather frame cinch to take his enormous umbrella with him to work. Since our house is within walking distance, he decided to just walk home if it started storming.

Good thinking.

Cody a film star? Yes!

To say we were delighted when Springfield's Healthy Living Alliance approached us to help them film an informational video about the rules of city cycling would be a massive understatement.

HLA teamed up with local improv comic Jeff Houghton, Brandon of Goodwin Films and us to film the first in their four-part series about healthy living in Springfield. The topic? Basic rules of the road tips for cyclists. Bike to Work Week is just two weeks away so the timing is perfect.

We contributed the Cody and the bike. The idea was to mount a few GoPro cameras onto the tandem, have Cody take the pilot's seat with Jeff on the back. The camera mounting proved to be the most challenging part of the whole endeavor.

Brandon Goodwin, the filmmaker and coworker Doug came over a couple times this week to figure out the logistics and take the rigged up rig out for a spin. For the record, there's a camera on each set of handlebars with sort of a tripod over on the side. Crazy. Cool.

Anyway, we showed up for the shoot this morning, got Cody and Jeff microphoned up...

And sent them on their way.

We are so excited to see the finished product. Everyone involved was so incredibly nice and talented and enthusiastic and easy to work with. We know the finished product will be very awesome.

We'll let you know when the final product is, um, finalized.

Open letter to the lady who almost killed us today

Dear lady,

I'm sure the thing you were digging around for in your SUV's console was very important. So important, in fact, that you failed to notice your light at the intersection of Grant and Walnut was red. So riveting that you failed to see the pair of cyclists in the middle of the intersection directly in front of you. So captivating that you didn't seem to hear me bellow into your passenger window a few panicked 'HEYHEYHEYs'. That thing in your console must have been pretty bewitching.

Luckily my husband makes sure our brakes are in excellent condition.

Sincerely,
Ginger

These Shoes Get Cat Calls, Too: Hairy Leg Edition

Not to one-up my wife, but I thought it was funny that just a few days after Ginger got cat calls because of her shoes, I also got cat calls because of my shoes.  I was eastbound on Ash, waiting at a red light at Providence, when I heard someone call from behind me in the left turn lane, "I love your shoes!"  I looked back to find two young ladies in a van smiling at me.  I thanked her and told her that I had owned the shoes for years and that they have been very comfortable and look nearly as good now as they did when I purchased them.  She nodded and said, "I'm just loving them."  I thanked her again as the light turned green and I continued on my way.

For the record, I was wearing my Puma El Rey slip-ons:

And I wasn't lying when I said that they look as good now as they did when I bought them.  I snapped this picture of my own shoe while I was locking my bike up at work.

Not too bad considering they've had 3 or 4 years of heavy use.

Cody's uniform

This is Cody's go-to commuter uniform. Slim pants, button down, sweater. He's a creature of habit, and it works for him. Unfortunately, that's not a neckerchief, it's his new ear warming headband. I sort of wish he went around in a neck scarf, but that's never going to happen.