way back machine

The Style Council Man Of Great Promise - The Tube Live 1984

Icicle Works - Love Is A Wonderful Colour

Orange Juice -I Can`t Help Myself

210 miles of contrast

Over the weekend a woman competing in the Proctor Bicycle Classic road race just outside of Peoria was killed when she was bumped by another rider, slipped into the oncoming traffic lane and was hit by a truck. The race was not closed to traffic and was following the "yellow line rule" where racers must stay in their lane for obvious safety reasons in traffic. If you live in a cycling city as I do (Madison, WI) you're probably wondering why they didn't have the route blocked to car traffic. Those who live in Peoria or a similar demographic know all too well that this would be a near impossibility. There are too many people in the area who do not want to be bothered or put out by the lycra clad set.

I grew up in Peoria and spent years as a recreational rider traversing the backroads and not so backroads of central Illinois. One thing I learned was that this area is about as unbicycle friendly as they come. Although I was never hit by a car, it was pretty common to have passing cars yell at me, swerve at me and throw the occasional can or garbage at me*. Back in those days (80s - to early 90s) the aggression was mostly by small town, rural kids and rednecks. From what I've read in the Peoria Journal Star and various Peoria blogs, most likely the danger today is from commuters trying to drive 60+ on farm roads on their way into Peoria. It seems that respect for cyclists in central Illinois has only gone downhill since I left.

I won't say that Madison is a bicycle paradise and doesn't have their share of SUV driving maniacs trying to give cyclists buzzcutts - they do. It's just so very very rare and on a level that doesn't even come close to the land of my birth. I wish the folks down there the best, but I'm glad I don't have to fight that battle anymore.

the story:
CyclingNews.com
Peoria Journal Star

related link:
This is what I wish all cities in the US would aspire to become.

I now have a major reason to visit Germany

For so many years I've poo-pooed the idea of visiting Germany. For whatever reason I've always enjoyed skirting around the landmass. Give me the lowlands of Holland & Belgium, the bicycle paths of Denmark and the anywhere, France. Give me Switzerland - even the German speaking part...but Germany proper? Yes that's been my thinking. Truth be told, in the last few years I've been more open to a visit as Melissa has family in Dortmund, which aside from being the Milwaukee of Germany (although I'm not a lager man the beer still appeals) is apparently a daytrip from Amsterdam. So yes I guess I've warmed to the idea a bit more. That was until today when my world was krautrocked. I DISCOVERED CURRYWURST!!

Why couldn't someone tell me that this existed? I thought I had a good grip on the popular streetfoods of the world. No let's rephrase that. A good grip on the streetfood of Western Europe and a working knowledge of it in the rest of the world. Imagine my surprise when I was flipping through a recent issue of Saveur and came across an article on Currywurst and how it is the latenight snack food of Berlin.

What is it? Saveur describes Currywurst as "thickly sliced rounds of fried pork sausage cradled in a paper tray and drenched with ketchup mixed with curry powder. Dusted with yet more curry powder and eaten with a plastic fork along with french fries or brotchen (rolls), currywurst delivers a happy intermingling of tangy, sweet and spicy flavors."

Coming from a fan of Belgian frites, merguez & poutine this sounds like a can't miss dish.

Check the wikipedia entry for more info and check out these photos of a classic currywurst eatery in Berlin. There is also a currywurst fan club.

above photo credits: lilano