Comment Archives: stories: Special Sections
Re: “Home Is Where the Bunny Is”
Great article. The more i read, the more i love my cuties bunny. /^..^\
Re: “Home Is Where the Bunny Is”
Thank you for this wonderful article!
When I tell people that I have a house rabbit that lives free range in my apartment, they often have their jaws to the floor. I tell them how wonderful they are, and how expressive they can be.
Re: “Vegetable Gardening for Dummies”
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Re: “The Sporting Life”
Then there's a wide range of bicycle racing options, at all levels from pros on down to beginners, on the road, on mountain bikes and in that funky on-off-the-bike racing called cyclocross. Spectating is free and teams at all ability levels would love to share their sport with interested folks. Check out www.ncnca.org for more info.
Re: “Jack London District”
Thanks for using the name Jack London District which is what the community living there uses. It is nice to be recognized as more than just the hinterland to the Square (and lets face it there isn't even a Square there).
Re: “How to Buy a Bike When You Don't Know Jack About Bikes”
Hey Kathleen! Loved the article. Finding the right bike can be a challenge but I've been lucky twice.
I just bought a new bike at Performance Bicylce on University (near MLK). Their customer service was pretty good, and they offer a money back guarantee/price guarantee. I usually suffer from buyer's remorse, so it's nice to know that if I fall out of love with my new Charge hybrid, I can just take it back.
This bike was a bit of an impulse buy, I went in to get my old Schwinn serviced, and decided I might as well spend a little more money on an upgrade instead. It was the second one I tried, before deciding it is my bike soulmate. I tried a few others aftewards, and none compared.
Everyday I love my bike more. Imported from the UK, it's a conversation starter. Women usually talk about the color "ooh, what a lovely green," or "I like your bike, it's so pretty." Some guys notice that its sparkly green, but mostly they take note of the hybrid elements of my bike, say they like the fenders, and point out mechanics that go over my head. One guy, yesterday, just nodded, looked at the bike, and then looked at me and nodded again.
I was happy with my first bike too. I saw it at Waterside Workshops when I was 7 months pregnant. I test rode it while my friend Heather watched on in terrified paralysis. On it, I discovered that my balance was better biking than walking. I rode it everywhere until the week before I gave birth. By then people were hollering at me from the sidewalk, "Oh my God! When are you due?" "Any minute," I'd reply. Once baby was big enough, I swapped out my back baskets, for a baby carrier, and would ride him around in his bright blue shark helmet.
My awesome grey schwinn was older than me, refurbished, and well loved. The bikes at waterside are donated by the community, and local youth work on them. Waterside Workshops are open to the public from 12-6 Friday through Sunday. http://www.watersideworkshops.org/wb/
A plus about them is they offer free workshops to the community on how to fix your own bike.
Re: “How to Buy a Bike When You Don't Know Jack About Bikes”
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Re: “The World's Best Seeds?”
please check also:
http://www.bioseme.it/
Re: “The Sporting Life”
Bay Area Vintage Base Ball
www.bavbb.com
We play by 1886 rules with authentic uniforms and equipment.
Re: “The Sporting Life”
What about 4 Square of the East Bay? They meet every week on Thursday nights, year round, in the Rockridge BART station parking lot and play 4 square (the kids' playground game). It's been happening for years now. It's super friendly, totally free and a whole lot of fun. Perfect for after the bar or after BARTing back to your car. They've gotta facebook ... http://www.facebook.com/pages/4-Square-of-…
Re: “Call of the Beer Cocktail”
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Re: “Family Biking in the East Bay”
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Re: “Where to Spend Your Staycation”
Before you go to Napa or Calistoga, try the great urban wineries right here in your back yard. East Bay Winery Bike Tours!
Re: “The Canned Beer Revolution”
www.DevilsCanyon.com has photos of the cans
Re: “The Sporting Life”
Kickball EB out in Walnut Creek has been an amazing addition to suburbia these past few years. Great way to meet new people and utilize those long lost college flip cup skills after the games (kickballeb.com).
Re: “How to Buy a Bike When You Don't Know Jack About Bikes”
Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions, comments, offers, etc. I have done what many of you have suggested before -- gotten any old bike and rode it for a while, until I stopped because I really didn't like riding it. Hence, my search for a bike I actually *want* to ride. (And yes, aesthetics are involved -- yikes!) I may be going the custom-build route, as I've discovered that may be an affordable option, to get just the bike I want. (Unfortunately, it will not be in time for Bike to Work Day. :-() Will keep you posted!
Re: “How to Buy a Bike When You Don't Know Jack About Bikes”
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Re: “How to Buy a Bike When You Don't Know Jack About Bikes”
I suggest that you just get on a bike and ride. Borrow a friend's bike. Get a cheap used bike at one of the great used cycle shops around. You could even go to the Spokeland Co-op and get trained on how to build your own bike from the used parts they stock. Once you are on a bike, forget about what's cool or who looks tribal. Just enjoy riding around, smelling the smells, run errands or just get some exercise. After riding a bit you'll have a better idea on what kind of bike you really want. Fix up the one you already have or get one of the ones you looked at at Manifesto. Don't let you decision making prevent you from riding now. In fact, you could get a bike today and then enjoy Bike to Work Day on Thursday. Good luck!
Re: “How to Buy a Bike When You Don't Know Jack About Bikes”
Also, remember when you hop onto that new (or new-to-you) bike, don't just automatically take the same routes you would take when you were driving a car. You don't need to be the guy riding a bike up Ashby while the semi trucks whiz by. A street or two over from nearly any frighteningly busy street, there is a nice calm residential street that runs parallel. That's where you want to be riding. (There might even be signs up that say "Bicycle Boulevard," but that's optional.)
Re: “Home Is Where the Bunny Is”
Concise but accurate. Nice job.