Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society

A cyclist’s perspective on bicycles while in China. Based on experiences from a trip to northern China in the Spring of 2008.

This crazy story isn’t real—it happened in a dream I had a few nights ago. EBC member Ang McCartney is in it, but before anyone gets creeped out, it isn’t a sexy dream or anything. It was just, well, you know, crazy.
It started pretty normally with me riding on the south side of Edmonton along 97th Street. The street was almost empty, as it often is, because there’s no on- or off- ramps connecting it to the Whitemud Freeway. It’s just a big wide road with warehouses and factories that’s a perfect north-south corridor for cyclists.

Jude became awake. It wasn’t a conscious choice, certainly. The dull ache of her head and right shoulder was an irritating contrast to the bright sun on the purple wall. She wondered if she should move to relieve the pain in her shoulder and risk finding more pain elsewhere. Shift legs, brace with hand, briefly lean on the shoulder wile hips moved up, slide over and around - everything felt fine. How many times in her life had she shifted her weight to turn over in the night?
She woke fully with thoughts of outdoor fun buzzing in her head.
.....

I was born in England in 1955 and without even seeing the land of my birth, travelled to Canada via ship to what has now been my home for the last 53 years and I expect that someday, I will die here. Canada is a very nice country except for the fact it gets so cold in the winter we are often stuck indoors.
.....

what shall we do with these streets, beloved?
now that the cars are gone
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Editors note:
The following is a column by the highly-esteemed automotive journalist Sandor St. Hughes. Mr. St. Hughes typically reviews luxury and sports automobiles for newspapers that subscribe to the Richmond International syndicate. However, an unfortunate “incident” at a staff party has resulted in his “promotion” to reviewing economy vehicles. As few sponsors could be found for the economy section this week, Mr. St. Hughes’ column is being supplied for free to worthy newsletters.

he’s in the driver’s seat
bare-midriffed girl beside him
exposing taut tanning bed belly
to heater’s blast
.....

Hello Old Friend
Ashley Hinecker
With my forehead pressed against the window, I’m dreaming of snow and white glows.
black whips past my eyes like sharp needles, bolting me from my quite sunny dreams.
“Wait! Stop!” i cry out. my dad stops the truck and i hop out, my only comment is “i think that’s one of my stolen bikes!”
i stomp towards an old black figure, snow building up on my boots making them heavy, as if trying to stop me from getting closer.
It shone in the sunny sky, but it was a hallow shine, holding memories full of pain.
i grip the handles, pushing it towards the truck.
........

A few Saturdays ago at Bikeworks, Alex Hindle dropped by with the idea of modifying his bicycle so he could launch fireworks from it. If you do not know Alex, this may seem a little strange. But I have been on a midnight ride or two with the man, so I was hardly shocked that he wanted to combine his two favourite things, namely, two-wheeled environmentally-friendly transportation, and rockets.
....