We are entering the second great age of the bicycle, and this one could be here for a very long time. The first bicycle age was a product of industrial transformation happening in the latter part of the 1800’s and the early 1900’s. The idea of a human powered velocipede had been around for a […]
Bicycles are the delightful vehicles that they are, partly because they are not as fast as a car, a train or a speeding bullet. If their motive power were to be increased so that they were capable of substantially faster average or top speeds, they would then require stronger brakes, more suspension, a heavier frame, […]
Humankind has long sought to harness forces beyond the power of his and her own human muscle to accomplish the work of industry, agriculture and transportation. From the first harnessing of draft animals, through additions of wind, water and steam power, the process of innovation and the accumulation of technology proceeded inexorably through the centuries […]
An investigation led by scientists at the University of Virginia found that most people would rather be doing something – even if just hurting themselves – than sitting alone with their thoughts. In a series of 11 studies, published in the journal Science in July, 2014, U.Va. psychologist Timothy Wilson and colleagues at U.Va. and […]
The first fish to take a step toward bicycling was Tiktaalik. This now extinct Devonian critter is understood by scientists to represent a transitional form between fish (water dwelling finned animals) and tetrapods (land dwelling legged animals). Before Tiktaalik came to light, scientists had a pretty good idea of both when and where a transitional […]
February past: We have five thriving apple trees, bearing four types of apples, two of which are Macintosh, which do so well in the Bitterroot Valley. This time of late winter we are enjoying the last of the stored apples of the fall, now a bit withered, but still tasty. We tumble out of our […]
After the bike riders had splashed in the creek, rinsing off the sweat and dust of the morning, they filled every water container they had. They knew that this might be the last water they would encounter over the next 20 rugged mountainous miles. Dave made sure his water bladder was brim full. Only a […]
The Center for Inexplicable Phenomena announced today that, on or about October 28th, 2015, a Mr. Rod Miner crawled through a coat hanger. The mystery of why he would undertake such a challenge ranks right up there with questions such as ‘how does a boa constrictor know what prey is too large for it to […]
Thirty years ago, one did not always have to consider whether a forest fire could trap you if you went biking or hiking in the back country. But in this decade of record heat, if you pedal that narrow winding road into the River Of No Return wilderness anytime between July and September, you have […]
I love this planet in every way that love is possible. Everything that I know and all that matters is here. I love the Earth precisely in the manner that an infant mammal loves its mother, from which it has received life and nourishment. I love it in the way that a father loves his […]
Powered by WordPressRodney's Musings 2025 | All Rights Reserved.