Yep, another beautiful day in New Orleans, as evidenced by the sky in this picture. I decided to take an easy ride today, as I’m a little sore from the past week of near-constant riding. After work I took Jack down to the Marigny to do a little writing at the coffee shop. Then we tooled over to a bar for the infamous Tater Tachos (nachos, but with tater tots instead of chips) and a beer. I was going to head home, but as the sun started to wane, just a little bit, it was a touch cooler and I decided to zip up the St. Claude bike lane over to the Lower Ninth. Continue reading
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Heron Nest Building in Audubon Park
I read myself to sleep last night with a bike repair book, so woke up with an urgent need to clean and maintain my bikes. Rhoda’s chain has been skipping a lot lately, and even the pedaling has felt off. So I treated her to a new chain, and she feels so, so much better. After riding to and from work I decided to meet K. to take Jack out for a spin on the levee. Continue reading
Picnic Table at the Huey P. Long Bridge
It was a stormy day in New Orleans today, but I had bike plans with my new riding buddy, C. C. works at a bike shop in town, so I met her there, where she used her wily salesmanship to sell me my first pair of special shoes to go with Jack’s clipless pedal system. I feel like such a grown up! I was scared to fall, and C. promised me that I would, and that she’d laugh, but I was a natural. Continue reading
Picnicking at the Fly
It’s the first full day of my spring break, and I couldn’t be more pleased. The weather was fantastic, so I went for a long ride along the Mississippi after a day of basketball, lunch, coffee, and reading. Yeah, rough life, eh? I was not the only person who thought the levee would be a nice place to toast this first day of spring (and my mom’s birthday–happy birthday, ma! Love you!). Continue reading
Sunset on the Mississippi
Oh yeah, it’s springtime in New Orleans. Today was ridiculously beautiful. I took advantage with a nice ride on the levee late this afternoon. So many people were out riding around, running, walking dogs. The folks with horses had them out, trotting around. Other folks were engaging in archery practice, shooting on the banks of the Mississippi at hay bales draped with vinyl targets. There were even golfers practicing chip shots. This is what I love about public space–it’s for the public. Continue reading
Sunset On Bayou St. John
It’s about to get warm again in New Orleans, so I decided to take advantage of the cool afternoon and got on the new bike for a trip to Mid-City and Bayou St. John. I love the new bike. I love just letting loose and speeding along, legs spinning, elbows bending. It feels so, so free. Jack and I are in for a long life of rides together, methinks. Continue reading
The Mississippi River at the Fly on My New Bike
I didn’t have to be at work until noon today, so I took the opportunity to go for a ride on the new bike, tentatively named Jack. She’s a Surly Long Haul Trucker, a green steel beauty, a touring bike. I’ve been riding a big pink cruiser for the past year, so this is a huge upgrade in speed. I’ve already realized that there’s a lot more to riding this bike than Rhoda. There are gears to shift, hand grips to rotate, brakes to feather. It is so, so fun. Continue reading
New Orleans Critical Mass on the Algiers Ferry
Tonight I went to my first Critical Mass. I was strangely nervous, I think because I still feel so new to riding and I almost always ride alone. But I had a beer to steel my nerves and then met up with the crowd at Jackson Square. Continue reading
Huey P. Long Bridge
I got my bike back today. I can’t express how good it felt to be back on Rhoda, riding along the Mississippi River levee, listening to The Roots, doffing my invisible hat to fellow bicyclers, dog walkers, and scooterers. Continue reading
The Fly
It was hot today, really, really hot. Since I’ve been busily moving I have been taking mostly task rides lately. But today I wanted to ride, just ride, as far as I could go. Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 