The evening ride brought new discoveries. I was almost sure I had seen all there is to see in Riga, but for my relief turns out there is always another place that can take my breath away. The moon was dramatic. It rose in golden light and illuminated the city. It made me thinking: have you ever thought what it would be like if the sun, just like the moon, wouldn't always be full? [28.03.13]
Two paradoxes I experienced today: a sunny morning with snowflakes lazily coming down from the sky and listening to relaxing, almost transcendental music while rushing through the evening traffic jam. Seemingly incompatible things can create new mysterious sensations. [27.03.13]
Today I got a chance to share my opinion on cycling conditions in Riga within a short program for the national TV. I mentioned a list of things that should be taken care of to move closer to being considered as one of the bike culture cities: creating bike lanes to connect the districts with the inner city, keeping the roads in clean and good condition, ensuring that pedestrians and drivers respect the few bike lanes we have, placing more bike-parking racks in the city center and I could go on. Let's see who listens.
As to my own business, my bike got new bearings for the hubs and some other small adjustments; the spinning should go smoother. [26.03.13]
I have been talking about the coming of Spring for too long, maybe too much. And now, after two months of waiting I am tired. But should I agree with the voice on the radio that said that we shouldn't get worried and impatient, because we all know it will come eventually and that right now we just need to find the Spring within ourselves? Meanwhile, there are some newly-baked jokes in circulation giving a positive vibe to all of that: it is 53d of February today and some are concerned about how not to slip on ice when jumping over a midsummer bonfire. [25.03.13]
Raise your head time to time to see and discover more!
[23.03.13]
The presence of exhaust gas in our air, in our lungs is an ordinary thing. Everybody is used to it, but we don't usually keep it in mind all the time, except the times when it becomes too obvious. Today I had to deal with a severe air-pollution. An old white van close to falling apart passed me hastily leaving an incredibly poisonous cloud of black smoke behind it. I tried to hold my breath but the smell continued for too long. Think about others, fix your stinky cars, people! [22.03.13]
Why is it so that some days spinning comes with such ease and others it is so forced and tiresome? This evening the run was perfect, I discovered an extra power storage in myself. The energy didn't wear out. On entering the room my reviving feet hurt to tears, that's a price to pay for wearing summer sneakers at -7C. [21.03.13]
Pic: Pavlove
I fell today and hurt my knee on the ice. I realized that I had forgotten about a posibility of falling and there I was crying uncontrollably like a child not because of pain but because of being pissed off at the long-drawn-out winter. It is oficially the first day of Spring, but snow and freeze persists. There are things that are not meant to come your way when you want; they come when they are supposed to. Someone is testing my patience again. [20.03.13]
Sometimes your life seems to have turned upside down, confusing and messy, when different pieces, details an people overwhelm you. It's when I look for answers in songs that I listen to while I ride, it's when I desperately try to find some directions in what people around say; even if it is a random sentence out of a context I try to see it as a hint. That is how I make everything even more confusing and then I just go for a spin-it-all-out ride and empty my mind. [19.03.13]
Rolling slowly over the bridge, surrounded by the playful wind and the bright light of the sun, I am thinking about those precious people who have contributed important links to my life-chain. No matter how rusty it might get, it will always be unbreakable thanks to them and I hope I will be able to share some of those invaluable chain links to make other chains stronger. [18.03.13]
Choosing what to wear in the mornings gets much harder, nothing fits the criteria because all I want to have on is summer tees and shorts. I thought if I made a step forward and wore less I would attract the warmth that way. Needless to say my silly strategy didn't work out very well. I ended up freezing to shivers and had to buy a new sweater :) On the way home the icy, frozen surface of Daugava looked like a huge mirror. [16.03.13]
Riding walkways in Riga is common and it is a part of the city life. I try to avoid doing that but sometimes there is no other choice (because of cobblestone streets, for example). It can be more fun, sure, because you have to squeeze in between people, doors and icy areas (currently). Pedestrians are used to it, but still they freak out and are not very fond of the situation. And I am in it with them. Let's ride on the streets always when we can. Yes, I confess, I did run into a pedestrian today. [15.03.13]
The last two days have been almost equal in busyness and in biking atmosphere; the weather also keeps the same attitude - biting with the cold. The second part of the morning began with an interview on Riga Radio, it was indeed a nice way to start a day especially because yesterday I didn't even know I would be there with my Shefix girls sharing our impressions from Fixed Days Berlin. I have realized that girls on bikes can attract a lot of attention and support easily, but the important thing is to use the power wisely. Girls on bikes are still seen as something extraordinary, I couldn't say I am not happy for that. Life surprises me lately in all kinds of ways. [13&14.03.13]
Spinning the pedals back in Riga is just like it was before leaving to Berlin. The absence of mountains of snow and the eye-disturbing but soul-pleasing sun gives hope that very soon we will take off (and burn) the winter clothes. It is still -15C though. [12.03.13]
The organizers had thought about participants' Sunday's condition and conjured a brunch, a very healthy brunch, for free. The day passed lazily playing with different borrowed bikes, trying my skills in tricks (the basics), cruising around the venue avoiding people and other obstacles, playing my own game and chatting with fellow bike lovers. The men mini-drome finals didn't bring much surprise except for the guy who earned the 2nd place on a bike that wasn't his and almost flew into the audience. [10.03.13]
*Greg Falski's ride.
Combining the XL morning coffee with a calm bike ride through Berlin to the main location of the event is one of those magical moments I will save in my archive of travel memories. The spot is spectacular. The event combines different types of competitions with a nicely organized bike exhibition where any bike freak could spend hours and hours wandering around and hardly keeping oneself from buying bunch of nice stuff. Meanwhile, our day's mission was the mini-drome race. Serious competition for the girls, to be honest, didn't show up and we had no choice but to win it all. Special applause to our Marika; losing to the best friend is quite close to winning. [09.03.13]
The whole night and half a day we spent in our cars, getting lost in the never-endless Poland and trying to reach Berlin before the first competition kicked off. But we managed to miss almost everything. Sprinting against each other (tired and hungry) didn't bring us to the finals, also because the German girls know how to spin... The gold sprints competition was exchanged for the kebab eating however we made it to the free-beer part to see others compete. Tomorrow is another day ... [08.03.13]
Cycling was awesome today. Bright, bright sun was glowing and wind was blowing gently bringing the feel and the air of spring. Today, one hour before tomorrow we will head into the long-awaited trip to Berlin. Better roads for a couple of days will please our tires' senses and the competitions will satisfy our thirst for adrenaline. Yeah! [07.03.13]
Today was the warmest day since Autumn. That means a lot and makes me happy even if my face is covered in dirt. This day was also very hot in a sense of "bunch of things to deal with". Everyone buried into chaotic busyness deserves a moment of this kind of peaceful rest to restart = water + coffee + 5 minutes of peace in an armchair. [06.03.13]
The busier you get the less you notice the also-hectic life around you. Open your eyes, remember to look on every side and not only straight forward and go through and with the lively world because that is how you remind yourself of where you are and where you are going to. [05.03.13]
Riding Riga on daily basis can be full of challenges and surprises. This here, for example, is a urban cyclocross track. Heading on your quotidian commute might sometimes mean participating in a survival game. Imagine all this snowed and icy... Yes, cycling in Riga is much more fun, I dare to say, than in other Northern European cities. [04.02.13]
The winter plays an evil teasing game with us. It seems to enjoy disappointing us with its comeback again and again. Today was very cold but sunny until late afternoon; we managed to take advantage of it and went to a lake-café for a brunch. What made my ride pleasant despite the freezing cold were the random car passengers and drivers supporting me with smiles and meaningful gesticulation, which surprised me a lot. This proves that people are much more pleasantly-minded on weekends. Live the weekend! [02.03.13]
Tough riding today. Hard wind is blowing against me; in addition to that water and dirt is all around and the passing cars throw it all in the air in a form of tiny drips. On the bike lane I encountered some obstacles. First there was a car turning and not watching and second there were a couple of guys standing in the middle of the lane and having an afternoon chat. So, instantly I came up with a master plan of fighting those lane-walkers. Give 'em a booty slap (but be gentle), they might remember it the next time they encounter themselves walking on a bike lane and step aside. It is March already but the day ends with a blizzard.[01.03.13]
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