Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!

Here's wishing each and every one who reads this a happy, healthy and blessed New Year!  Your visits and comments are greatly appreciated and valued!

More than a year after starting this blog -- with only the vaguest notions of why or what might be accomplished -- you and I are still here.  That in itself is something.

In some ways, mikespokes settled in to a kind of niche: thoughts of reviewing products and being a voice in the cycling world were shed like the unrealistic nonsense they were.  In others, the search for a viewpoint continues. There are definitely times when I question why anyone would want to read about my bikes and biking non-adventures.  Heaven knows there are times when I tire of reading about other people's. 

But every once in a while, there is a small story that seems worth telling, or a new trinket that seems worthy of sharing.  On those occasions, I like to think somebody, somewhere is reading and maybe finds it interesting enough to come back now and then.

If not, no hard feelings!  I'll continue to try to find items, photos and questions of interest to me and, hopefully, you.  I will continue to have no opinion whatsoever on access issues, helmet use, cycling attire, frame geometry or trends.  I will still avoid the irritating blog practice of asking you questions in transparent hope of boosting comment counts.

I will, however, continue to fume at bike trail rudeness, convinced that seething is somehow going to lead to people to reinvent themselves as polite.  It may be a new year, but I'm not going to get smart all at once.

One day, maybe in the New Year, I'll stumble upon a viewpoint! 

Here's a quick look back at key (or maybe random) moments from 2010.  Some new additions, one departure, fun rides with family and another year of God-given health and happiness.











10 comments:

  1. Thanks Mike,
    I appreciate your blog and hope you continue to share your stories. What you share happens to be the kind of things that interest me. In fact just this week I picked up a seventies three speed having gotten interested in one because of something you mentioned months ago. It is nothing special (In fact it is one of those biked shaped department store things that I've read about in some blogs.)but cheap so I picked it up. I got it going today. I think it will be great for pulling my grand daughters around in their bike trailer.
    Thanks Again and Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you, George! Your kind words are a great start to 2011!

    For what it's worth, I think there's a big difference between department store bikes of today and those from the 1970s. The chances are great that yours was made by a reputable manufacturer, quite possibly in the same factory and with the same techniques as high-end bikes of that era.

    Enjoy riding with the grandkids and happy new year!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I LOVE your blog, Michael, even if I don't follow it as regularly as you update it. Even after all of these years together, I still stand in awe of your (economic) use of the language and your ability to paint pictures with words.

    Personally, though, I would definitely nominate you for a "Flat Tube" award (akin to the Razzies, I guess?) for neglecting to have your collarbone checked in the months after your crash in the late fall 2009.

    Guess that's an item for the Nagging Wife Blog.

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy New Year to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I too thoroughly enjoy reading your blog entries Mike and look forward to many more in 2011! Keep it up!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. And is that 11 bikes I count in the picture above??? You have almost as many bikes as we do! hahaha

    ReplyDelete
  7. @Cassidy Thank you for the support! I don't have as many bikes as Practical Cycle yet, but I sure would love that Batavus you guys have. I've got to come in an photograph that one for the blog. Happy new year!

    @Velouria Happy New Year to you as well! Your goals for the year are once again similar to mine (although you've progressed much further than I in 2010)! Good luck to us both!

    @Ferris Wheel: Thank you so much for enjoying how much I enjoy my hobby/pastime. Xoxoxo!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy New Year to you and yours.

    I will always read your blog. If nothing else to see what else you have managed to find to work on. I love old bikes, much more than new ones, and I like to see what other people find and how they personalize them.

    I also love the picture of Fiona with Crumpets, that has to be a classic. FWIW I managed to score a cherry 1973 Colt in the Bronze green to match my Superbe, now the bride and I will have matching (sort of) bikes to do our Sunday afternoon cruises on.

    Aaron

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks, Aaron! That means a lot coming from you!

    Will you post a pix of the Colt? Or, send them to me and I'll do it for you!

    And... many thanks for your easy to grasp and super-helpful breakdown of my Superbe vs. Sports question!

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Colt is currently wintering in Sunny Florida (wish I was!) and will be coming in sometime this spring. I always heard good things come to those who wait :-D

    I will post pictures when I get my hands on it.

    Aaron

    ReplyDelete