CITY DAILY PHOTO MAY THEME - CYCLISTS

You might find this in many cities. There are street bicycle races around here a few times a year, always good for color and action. These people are impressive athletes who take risks - I've seen a couple of wrecks. Not for me though. The last time I rode a bike I had to get a steroid shot in my knee.             

Witness City Daily pedal power from around the world at https://citydailyphoto.org/category/theme-days/ .

ANY AUDIENCE WE CAN GET

The Artica festival site is close to the Mississippi but almost all of it is behind a flood wall. However, there is a long bike trail that runs along the river for miles north of downtown. People ride on either side of the wall and it's common for them to stop by the festival. Bike clothing has become elaborate and brightly colored.

Been a long time since I rode a bicycle, although I did it a lot when I was younger. The last time I tried my knee got so inflamed I needed a steroid shot. (Thanks to you, Steve, if you see this.) It's scared me off since.       

WHEN YOU GOT NOTHING YOU GOT NOTHING TO LOSE

At least photographically, to use the words of Bob Dylan (https://youtu.be/UskDupcLM0M). Over the last couple of days I went out walking in Forest Park and our large botanical garden looking for something to shoot. There were a few morsels. This is on the path around the Grand Basin in the park. Do you really need a mask on a bicycle with no one else around?            

BIKE RACK AT THE ARCH, MORNING

I can't ride a bicycle these days, at least more than briefly. Too much orthopedic corrosion. If I could, though, I'd park it here.                  

MADELEINE MONDAY

Watch out world, here I come.

 

We took Ellie and her new bike to Tower Grove Park for a workout.  It is usually quiet and has some long, fairly flat straightaways, perfect for her level (she hasn't learned the gearshift yet.) But under these conditions, can she fly!

 

Note the doll in the rear bike seat. Parents and grandparents in this country all know American Girl Dolls. They have their own special store in some cities, are horrifically expensive and have outfits and accessories that require a second mortgage to buy. Fortunately by now there are knock-off versions with decent quality and priced for those who drive Toyotas rather than Mercedes. That's what Ellie has. They all come with a card giving their names and characteristics. This is Alaine. We assume that she is Québécoise because her card says she likes poutine.

 

MADELEINE MONDAY

Ellie turned seven last Thursday. Hard to believe. The childhood of my own kids, now sliding into middle age, seems impossibly long ago. She had what's called a strider bike, something new to me. It had pedals but no brakes or gears. Ellie didn't make much progress on it. But, rather than throw a dart on Amazon, my daughter went to a local bicycle shop, got good advice and bought this seven speed, hand brake model. Now the child cannot be stopped, tearing around corners, zooming up and down hills. Money well spent.          

MADELEINE MONDAY

After a long spell of unusually cool, wet weather, the end of May has brought glorious spring skies. To get Ellie out of her mother's hair while working at home, I had the kid pick where to take her bike. She chose the Arch grounds. Here she is, standing at the base and holding the thing up. But there was a much greater adventure later in the day that we will get to soon.       

PANDEMIC IN SPRINGTIME - TRANSIENCE

Everything changes, nothing is permanent. This, too, will pass. I only hope that we all come out okay on the other side.            

THE LOOK

So, okay, here's a guy as old as I am, or close, out for some exercise. Good for him. But is the whole ensemble a bit much? Trail bike (expensive, no doubt), special shoes, bicycle tights (probably Gortex), high visibility jacket (ditto), super sunglasses, bike helmet to match the outfit, looking at his smart phone, probably a workout app. Now where are my comfy torn jeans?            

WHEELS

Fun to watch, hard for me to do. The last time I rode a bicycle I needed a cortisone shot in my knee. I've been on the back of a motorcycle a couple of times but never driven one. If I tried, I would never do it wearing a fake rabbit head.

The group in the third picture is a club that participates in parades around town. They call themselves the Banana Bike Brigade. Oh, and that's a lollypop stick, not a cigarette, in the mouth of the rider in the last picture.

 

NYC Transportation

Few New York subway stations lobbies are as spiffy as this one under a newer, high-priced office building. Most stations are around a century old and pretty gritty (although I think many in Chicago are even more barren). 

People can try getting around on a bicycle if the weather is good, although you may take your life in your hands doing so in this city. Maybe it's okay on a simple, slow bike with a sumo wrestler on the front to push away obstacles.                   

On The Sidelines

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Some quick pix of life at the side of the race course. Above, a competitor meets that special someone. First below, a team sponsored by a local health insurance company. They were all speaking German. Bottom, the line outside Sweetie Pie's next to the race course in late afternoon. The place is said to have the best soul food in St. Louis. I've eaten there a couple of times and it sure is yummy. Since they got their own reality show on the Oprah network it takes forever to get a table. By 5:45, the queue on the sidewalk was easily 50 people.

Sorry (again) about the lack of comments. I've been getting home from work about two hours before bedtime. Say hello to the Mrs., have dinner, help clean up, put up a post and then zzzzz. Repeat cycle in the morning.

And Now Some Y Chromosomes

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A few scenes from the pro-level men's race at the Tour de Grove. Above, the leaders jockey back and forth for top position. First below, the pack whizzes by me while I sit on the curb with a wide angle lens. I took yesterday's portraits moments before.

Ridiculously long work day on Monday. I'll come visit everyone as soon as I can.

Women Can Fly

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At the Tour de Grove on Saturday, I watched races for men, women and handicapped competitors on three-wheel recumbent cycles. Everyone was impressive. The last time I tried to ride a bike I needed a cortisone shot in my knee. Really. The action I photographed was far beyond me.

Toward the end I was sitting on the curb, shooting the men with a wide angle lens as they zoomed by. The woman above, who was among the leaders throughout the race (as in the next picture) stopped beside me to chat with a race official. She looked like a Valkyrie on wheels. Check out those muscles. I'd stay out of the way.    

Tour de Grove

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Big time bicycle racing comes to St. Louis each May. It's time for the Tour de Grove, which is, um, nothing like the Tour de France and similar races. There is a 1.7 mile / 2.7 km course laid out in the streets of The Grove neighborhood. Lots of good snaps. Should keep me occupied for days.  

My Brain

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There is one YouTube clip so obviously appropriate for this post that the cognoscenti will recognize it at once. But, for the benefit  of the rest of the world:

The photo is of some high tech bicycle helmet found at a vendor's booth at Earth Day.

Don't Drink And Bike

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There was a place to find consolation for riders who finished at the back of the pack in the Tour de Grove . They could head to the Premium Lounge with their disappointed friends, ride right in the door and coast up to the bar. Green or black olive in your martini?

Downtown St. Louis 365 provides directions for those who can't find a 630 foot steel monument or the largest river in North America.

Tour de Grove

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Bicycle racing isn't as popular in the US as Europe but it's around. Particularly on weekends, it is common to see packs of cyclists zooming by on the streets clad in brightly colored spandex. (I wouldn't wear spandex unless it made me invisible.) The Tour de Grove took place in the eponymous neighborhood a week ago in cold rain. Tough guys.

The modern equivalent of a wandering tinker on Downtown St. Louis 365.

Pedal The Cause - Searching For A Cure For Cancer

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Yes, and it's a long, long look. A final post from Pedal The Cause, showing just a few of the more than 700 riders.

Tomorrow, a complete change of pace: Artica. Any one for some Dada theater with florescent-colored props?

Rain Cycle

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A bicyclist in Forest Park dodges the rain showers that rolled through the area yesterday. There is a tornado watch in effect as I write this on Saturday night. I've been in St. Louis more than 40 years and I've never seen one, fortunately, but they've been around the area many times. Mrs. C is from rural Kansas and she's never seen one. She actually has a sister named Dorothy who still lives in Kansas but, sadly, does not have a dog names Toto. She has a husband named Bill.

I'm hoping to shoot the annual Earth Day Festival in the park today. The forecast looks dicey but even if it doesn't rain Sunday the area should be slop. Break out the Wellies.